last nail in the coffin
Decisive finishing stroke
The last nail in the coffin is the final event or action that ensures failure, death, or the end of something already weakened: The scandal was the last nail in the coffin for his political career.
The image is of sealing a coffin shut—each setback drives another nail, and the last one makes recovery impossible.
Often shortened to another nail in the coffin for contributing factors that aren't yet final.
- deathblowFinal, fatal stroke
- lastFinal in sequence
- decisiveQuick to conclude
- coup de grâceMerciful finishing blow
- death knellOmen of ending
fatal blow · final · ultimate · clincher · epitaph · breaking point · requiem · point of no return · tipping point · last gasp · swan song · kiss of death · final straw · bitter end · elegy · conclusion · dirge · endpoint
last nail in the coffinfresh start
Opportunity to restart unburdened
new beginning · new lease on life · rebirth · resurrection · clean slate
last nail in the coffinlifeline
Essential connection to safety
shot in the arm · kiss of life · saving grace · ray of hope · reprieve
last nail in the coffinbreakthrough
Sudden important advance
game changer · turning the corner · sign of life · comeback · reversal of fortune
lasting, lastly, outlast, everlasting, nailed, nailing, nailer, coffin, coffins