dead man walking
nounEtymology A phrase traditionally used in U.S. prisons to announce a condemned prisoner being walked to the place of execution. Its use has expanded as a euphemism for anyone facing an impending and unavoidable loss.
1
A condemned prisoner walking to a death chamber or other place of execution.
- It was Percy Wetmore who ushered Coffey onto the block, with the supposedly traditional cry of “Dead man walking! Dead man walking here!”1996, Stephen King, The Green Mile:
2
Figuratively Someone who is soon to die.
- "So, arrest me," Cummings said. "The fuck do I care? I'm a dead man walking."2010, Peter Corris, Torn Apart, Allen and Unwin, page 231:
3
Figuratively Someone who is about to face an unavoidable loss (though the person may not realize it yet).
4
Climatology, Meteorology, Natural sciences Slang A multivortex tornado typically appearing in the form of a human figure walking.
- Derived terms
- dead person walking, dead woman walking
- Related terms
- lame duck