Embark on a journey to unravel the charm behind the idiom ‘death knell’ as we uncover its meaning, explore its origins, and delve into real-life examples.
Meaning of the Idiom
The idiom ‘death knell’ is a poignant expression used to signify a decisive and ominous event or action that signals the end or downfall of something. The term ‘death knell’ draws its metaphor from the tolling of a knell, which is a solemn and mournful bell often associated with funerals. This idiom is commonly employed to describe a development, decision, or occurrence that marks the demise or irreversible decline of a person, idea, project, or institution.
Origin of the Idiom
The origin of “death knell” as an idiom can be traced to its literal meaning associated with the tolling of a knell. Historically, the tolling of bells, especially a slow and mournful tolling, was a common practice to announce a death or signify the end of a person’s life. The metaphorical use of ‘death knell’ emerged to describe events or circumstances that similarly marked the end or downfall of something significant.
10 Idiom Examples in Everyday Situations
1. The sudden resignation of the company’s CEO sounded the death knell for its ambitious expansion plans.
2. The closure of the historic bookstore was seen as the death knell for the community’s literary culture.
3. The bankruptcy filing served as the death knell for the once-thriving business, marking the end of an era.
4. The rejection of the proposal by key investors sounded the death knell for the startup’s innovative project.
5. The introduction of new regulations proved to be the death knell for the unregulated industry, leading to its collapse.
6. The final match defeat served as the death knell for the team’s championship aspirations, leaving fans in disbelief.
7. The announcement of massive layoffs was the death knell for the employees’ morale, creating a somber atmosphere in the workplace.
8. The withdrawal of support from key allies signaled the death knell for the political candidate’s campaign.
9. The discontinuation of the iconic product line was viewed as the death knell for the company’s traditional brand identity.
10. The crumbling infrastructure and lack of maintenance became the death knell for the historic landmark, leading to its eventual closure.
10 Quotes Featuring the Idiom
1. “In the story of progress, every setback may sound like a death knell, but it often becomes the prelude to a resilient comeback.” – Unknown
2. “The death knell of outdated traditions is the birth of new possibilities, as the winds of change usher in a transformative era.” – Unknown
3. “When faced with adversity, the human spirit refuses to succumb to the death knell, finding strength in the face of challenges.” – Unknown
4. “The death knell of ignorance is the resonance of knowledge, as the pursuit of wisdom dispels the shadows of misunderstanding.” – Unknown
5. “In the theater of ideas, the rejection of outdated concepts becomes the death knell for intellectual stagnation, paving the way for innovation.” – Unknown
6. “The death knell of a failed experiment is not the end of exploration but the beginning of a new hypothesis leading to discovery.” – Unknown
7. “Every sunset may seem like the death knell of the day, but it heralds the promise of a new dawn and the beauty of fresh beginnings.” – Unknown
8. “The death knell of a broken heart is the echo of healing, as time and resilience mend the fractures, allowing love to bloom once more.” – Unknown
9. “When facing adversity, viewing challenges as the death knell of dreams is a perspective shift that transforms obstacles into stepping stones.” – Unknown
10. “The death knell of fear is the courage that rises from within, empowering individuals to confront the unknown and embrace the journey ahead.” – Unknown
Idioms Starting From Letter D
Each and every letter of the English alphabet has hundreds of idioms. As in this post, we are talking about the idiom beginning with the letter D. There are many other idioms that also start with the ‘D’, which can be useful to you. We have gathered all the D-starting idiomatic expressions on a single page to make it easy for you to find the best and most useful idioms starting with the letter D.
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