as dead as a doornail
Utterly without life
Completely and unquestionably dead.
The phrase emphasizes finality—not merely dead but emphatically so: The possum lay in the road, as dead as a doornail.
It extends to anything defunct or finished: That proposal is as dead as a doornail.
Why a doornail?
Probably just the satisfying sound of it.
Devoid of animation
gone · finished · ended · terminated · defunct · demised · perished · no more
To the fullest extent
- completelyTo the fullest extent
- absolutelyCompletely, without exception
- totallyTo the full extent
- thoroughlyIn complete detail
unquestionably · undeniably · indisputably · definitively · certainly · positively · unmistakably · beyond doubt
Time-tested expression of wisdom
- clichéOverused, unoriginal expression
- proverbTraditional saying expressing truth
- DickensSurname of Victorian novelist
- ScroogeMiserly, cold-hearted person
colorful · folksy · quaint · traditional · time-worn · figurative · hyperbole · colloquial
lifeless
Devoid of animation
departed · gone · finished · ended · terminated · defunct · demised · perished · no more · done for
utterly
To the fullest extent
- completelyTo the fullest extent
- absolutelyCompletely, without exception
- totallyTo the full extent
thoroughly · unquestionably · undeniably · indisputably · definitively · certainly · positively · unmistakably · beyond doubt · without question
old saying
Time-tested expression of wisdom
- clichéOverused, unoriginal expression
- proverbTraditional saying expressing truth
- DickensSurname of Victorian novelist
Scrooge · colorful · folksy · quaint · traditional · time-worn · figurative · hyperbole · colloquial · proverbial
as dead as a doornailalive and kicking
Healthy and active
full of life · alive and well · alive · living · breathing
as dead as a doornailgoing strong
Continuing vigorously, undiminished
in full swing · up and running · flourishing · thriving · going concern
as dead as a doornailfull of beans
Very lively, energetic
bright-eyed and bushy-tailed · raring to go · buzzing · humming · vibrant
doornail, deaden, deadly, deadness, deadened, deadening, nailed, nailing