dead man walking
Soon-to-be executed
Dead man walking refers to someone whose fate is sealed—typically facing imminent death, disgrace, or dismissal.
The phrase originated in American prisons, announced when a condemned inmate was escorted to execution.
It now applies broadly to anyone doomed despite still being present: After that scandal, the CEO was a dead man walking.
Once the board saw the numbers, I knew I was a dead man walking.
Housing for condemned prisoners
- executionCompleting a planned task
- lethal injectionCapital punishment by needle
- electric chairElectrocution execution device
- gallowsExecution hanging apparatus
last meal · capital punishment · clemency · appeal · reprieve · sentence · warden · inmate
death row
Housing for condemned prisoners
- executionCompleting a planned task
- lethal injectionCapital punishment by needle
- electric chairElectrocution execution device
gallows · last meal · capital punishment · clemency · appeal · reprieve · sentence · warden · inmate · prisoner
inevitable
Certain to occur
imminent · inescapable · last mile · terminal · countdown · hopeless · sealed · foregone conclusion · no escape · marked
- death idiomskick the bucket, six feet under, kiss of death, death wish, death trap
- executionexecution, lethal injection, firing squad, gas chamber, electric chair
dead man walkingpardoned
Formally forgiven for offense
reprieved · survivor · saved · spared · cheating death
dead man walkingpardoned
Formally forgiven for offense
exonerated · acquitted · commuted · innocent man · not guilty
dead man walkingrising star
Emerging person of promise
golden boy · sure thing · untouchable · bulletproof · the chosen one
dead, walking, deadly, deaden, deadness, deadened, deathly, dying, manly