dying in harness
Expire while employed
Dying in harness means to die while still actively working, rather than in retirement.
The image comes from a draft animal that works until it drops.
The phrase usually carries a note of admiration or at least acceptance—someone who stayed productive to the end: He never wanted to retire; he died in harness at eighty-two.
- work ethicDedication to doing one's job
- nose to grindstoneDevoted to hard work
- duty-boundMorally required to act
- old soldierExperienced former military person
- industriousnessHabitual hard work
punch the clock · until the end · burning the candle at both ends · tirelessness · soldier on · never quit · laboriousness · carrying the torch · diligence · steadfastness · till death do us part · unretired · professional integrity · final curtain · vocation · workaholic · life's work · unretired
dying in harnessretiring
Leaving the workforce
retirement · early retirement · stepping down · hanging up one's hat · putting out to pasture
dying in harnessresting on one's laurels
Relying on past accomplishments
taking it easy · sunset years · winding down · slowing down · gentleman farmer