at death's door

Definition

About to die; in a life-threatening state of health.

Example Sentences

• "The minstrel woman who left the Castle yesterday has spread the report everywhere, that the Duke of Rothsay is murdered, or at death's door."
• "One of my Polynesian sailors lay at death's door with blackwater fever."
• "Clearly, a business with $26 billion in cash reserves isn't exactly at death's door."