wouldn't be seen dead
Refuses with disdain
Wouldn't be seen dead expresses emphatic refusal or aversion—you would never do something or be associated with something, even if you were a corpse incapable of caring: I wouldn't be seen dead in that outfit.
The phrase emphasizes that the thing in question is beneath one's dignity or taste.
British English often uses caught instead: wouldn't be caught dead.
- loatheIntensely dislike
- detestFeel strong aversion
- over my dead bodyEmphatic refusal phrase
- faux pasSocial misstep or indiscretion
- not in a million yearsEmphatic refusal of possibility
out of the question · uncool · dignity · taboo · self-respect · unthinkable · beneath me · pride · lose face · distasteful · stigma · outmoded · shun · abhor · never ever · vulgarity · credibility · despise
enthusiasm and desire
wouldn't be seen deaddying to
Intensely eager for
jump at the chance · relish · lap up · go for