paid the ultimate price
Made final sacrifice
Paid the ultimate price means died, especially as a consequence of a dangerous endeavor or noble cause.
The phrase frames death as the highest possible cost one can pay: Firefighters who paid the ultimate price are honored at the memorial.
Often used of soldiers, first responders, or others who died in service to others.
The expression can sound grandiose when applied to lesser sacrifices.
- demiseCessation of existence
- lossBeing without something
- deathCessation of life
- braveryBoldness before danger
- martyrdomSuffering for conviction
selflessness · forfeiture · irreversibility · terminality · dedication · valor · penalty · cost · service · passing · fatality · end · honor · perish · consequence · trade-off · fallen · war dead