sleeps with the fishes
Murdered and submerged
Sleeps with the fishes means is dead—specifically, killed and disposed of, often with the body dumped in water.
The phrase evokes mob violence and became iconic through *The Godfather*, where a wrapped fish signals that someone has been murdered: Cross the boss and you'll be sleeping with the fishes.
Now used loosely for anyone who's been killed or eliminated.
- cement shoesMob execution method
- concrete overcoatMurder by drowning weight
- passed awayDied, said gently
- mob bossCriminal organization's top figure
- hitmanProfessional paid murderer
deep six · kicked the bucket · watery grave · vendetta · ocean floor · ocean deep · pushing up daisies · consigliere · crime family · bought the farm · witness protection · drowned · six feet under · contract killing · shuffled off this mortal coil · overboard · underworld · bit the dust
sleeps with the fishesalive and well
Existing and healthy
alive and kicking · survived · above ground · walking around · kicking
sleeps with the fishesbeat the rap
Evade criminal conviction
untouchable · made man · sitting pretty · living large · running the show
sleep, sleeps, sleeping, slept, sleeper, sleepers, sleepy, sleepily, sleepiness