dead as a doornail
Gone beyond revival
Dead as a doornail means completely and unmistakably dead—no chance of revival.
The phrase emphasizes finality: The battery is dead as a doornail.
It applies to literal death but more often to things that have ceased functioning or lost all vitality: That proposal is dead as a doornail.
The doornail was traditionally the large-headed nail struck repeatedly by a door knocker, beaten so often it could never be used again.
No longer in use
- antiquatedOld and outdated
- defunctNo longer existing
- extinctNo longer existing
- bygoneOf earlier times
forgotten · outmoded · superseded · kaput · finished · history · over · done for
To the fullest extent
- utterlyTo the fullest extent
- absolutelyCompletely, without exception
- thoroughlyIn complete detail
- entirelyTo the full extent
definitively · unquestionably · indisputably · categorically · stone-cold · beyond doubt · without question · certifiably
outdated
No longer in use
- antiquatedOld and outdated
- defunctNo longer existing
- extinctNo longer existing
bygone · forgotten · outmoded · superseded · kaput · finished · history · over · done for · washed up
completely
To the fullest extent
- utterlyTo the fullest extent
- absolutelyCompletely, without exception
- thoroughlyIn complete detail
entirely · definitively · unquestionably · indisputably · categorically · stone-cold · beyond doubt · without question · certifiably · unmistakably
- folk sayingsproverb, adage, maxim, folk saying, old saying
- Old Westcowboy, cowboys, cowgirl, sheriff, sheriffs
dead as a doornailalive and kicking
Healthy and active
alive and well · living · alive · breathing · animate
dead as a doornailfull of life
Energetic and animated
full of beans · vibrant · bright-eyed and bushy-tailed · vivacious · thriving
dead as a doornailgoing strong
Continuing vigorously, undiminished
up and running · in full swing · going concern · flourishing · viable
nail, door, doorway, doors, nails, deaths, deaden, doorstep, doorbell