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What does "dead" mean?

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In addition to the idioms beginning with dead, also see beat a dead horse; caught dead; cut someone dead; drop dead; knock dead; more dead than alive; over my dead body; quick and the dead; stop cold (dead); to wake the dead. Also see under death.

See dead in WNW Idioms

dead in the water

Informal

at a standstill from the loss of power, momentum, vigor, etc.
destined for certain failure or ruin; doomed

dead to rights

Informal in an undeniably incriminating situation; red-handed

dead to the world

Informal sound asleep

the dead

those who have died

See dead in American Heritage Dictionary 4 Idioms

dead and buried

No longer in use or under consideration: All past animosities are dead and buried now.

dead in the water

Unable to function or move: The crippled ship was dead in the water. With no leadership, the project was dead in the water.

dead to rights

In the very act of making an error or committing a crime: The police caught the thief dead to rights with my silverware.

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