Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

do or die

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.03 in modern English

Syllables: do or die
IPA

9

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

1

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To act with sufficient urgency to result in either immediate success or immediate failure.

adj

Requiring a determined or desperate effort to avoid the consequences of failure.

Example Sentences

"Emanuel: Bless us, dear Fortune! / Armusia: Let us be worthy of it in our courage, and Fortune must befriend us. Come, all sever; but keep still within sight: when the flame rises let's meet, and either do or die."
"Lay the proud Usurpers low! / Tyrants fall in every foe! / Liberty's in every blow! / Let us do or die!"
"Here is a mantra, a short one, that I give you. You may imprint it on your hearts and let every breath of yours give expression to it. The mantra is : ‘Do or Die’. We shall either free India or die in the attempt; we shall not live to see the perpetuation of our slavery."
"Clinton and Dole brought different needs to the debate. For Dole it was do or die. He had to hit Clinton hard but without seeming harsh, a conundrum for him all year."

Etymology

An ultimatory verbal phrase composed of the words: do, or, and die.

Inflected Forms

does or dies (present, singular) doing or dying (participle, present) did or died (past) done or died (participle, past) do-or-die (alternative) either do or die (alternative)

Questions

What does do or die mean?: To act with sufficient urgency to result in either immediate success or immediate failure.
Where does do or die come from?: An ultimatory verbal phrase composed of the words: do, or, and die.

How to pronounce do or die

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