sleep with the fishes
Killed, dumped underwater
To sleep with the fishes is to be dead, specifically killed and disposed of—the image being a body dumped in water.
The phrase is associated with organized crime, popularized by *The Godfather*: Cross the boss and you'll be sleeping with the fishes.
Sometimes used humorously for lesser failures: My career is sleeping with the fishes.
- omertaCriminal vow of secrecy
- killCause death
- mafiaCriminal organization using intimidation
- organized crimeStructured illegal enterprise
- demiseCessation of existence
mobster · pushing up daisies · gangster · watery grave · hitman · mob hit · gangland · The Godfather · horse head · made man · family business · ocean · kick the bucket · underworld · assassination · six feet under · homicide · dirt nap
- underworld slangsnitch, rat out, hitman, capo, consigliere
sleep with the fishesdodge a bullet
Narrowly avoid disaster
beat the rap · escape · get away · turn state's evidence · live to fight another day
sleep, sleeps, sleeping, slept, sleeper, sleepers, sleepy, sleepily, sleepiness