sleeping with the fishes
Gangster murder euphemism
Sleeping with the fishes means dead, especially killed and disposed of by drowning or dumping in water.
The phrase is associated with organized crime—a mob warning or confirmation that someone has been murdered: Cross the boss and you'll be sleeping with the fishes.
Popularized by *The Godfather*, it now appears in any context suggesting someone has been permanently eliminated.
- deadNo longer alive
- defunctNo longer existing
- demiseCessation of existence
- murderDeliberate unlawful killing
- mob hitOrganized crime assassination
kick the bucket · drowning · watery grave · extinct · The Godfather · mobster · organized crime · ocean floor · corpse · alibi · bite the dust · hitman · hit list · pushing up daisies · submerged · fatality · evidence · concrete shoes
- underworld slangsnitch, rat out, hitman, capo, consigliere
sleeping with the fishesalive and kicking
Healthy and active
alive and well · living · breathing · safe and sound · surviving
sleeping with the fishesuntouchable
Exempt from criticism or harm
safe as houses · out of harm's way · in the clear · off the hook · home free
sleeping with the fishesmade man
Initiated organized crime member
in good standing · running the show · calling the shots · the boss · top dog
sleeping, sleepy, sleeper, sleeps, asleep, sleepless, sleeplessness, fishes, fisher