1. Home
2. Idioms
3. killed

killed

---

---

kill the clock

In sports, to protect a lead by using up as much possible time that remains in a game or match without giving the opposing team a chance to score, generally by maintaining a passive or defensive strategy. With just a narrow two-point lead, the home team is trying to kill the clock to hold out for a win. I don't know, Jim, there's a lot of game time left for them to start killing the clock.

See also: clock, kill

kill (one)self

1. To commit suicide. Once John realized he had begun to have thoughts of killing himself, he decided to seek help.

2. To bring about one's death by performing a particular action. This phrase can be said when one's life is or could be in danger, but it is often used figuratively. I can hardly breathe—I'm going to kill myself if I go back on the treadmill right now! If they try driving home in this snow, they'll kill themselves—tell them to get a hotel room for the night.

3. To overexert oneself. Don't kill yourself trying to get the report done tonight—it's not due until next week anyway.

See also: kill

Curiosity killed the cat.

Prov. Being curious can get you into trouble. (Often used to warn someone against prying into other's affairs.) Jill: Where did you get all that money? Jane: Curiosity killed the cat.

See also: cat, curiosity, killed

killed outright

killed immediately. The driver was killed outright in the accident. Twenty people were killed outright in the explosion.

See also: killed

little (hard) work never hurt anyone

 and little (hard) work never killed anyone

Prov. One should expect to do hard or difficult work and not avoid doing it. Go help your father with the yard work. A little hard work never hurt anyone. Go ahead. Bring me some more bricks. A little work never killed anyone.

See also: anyone, hurt, little, never, work

Curiosity killed the cat.

something that you say in order to warn someone not to ask too many questions about something 'Why are you going away so suddenly?' 'Curiosity killed the cat.'

See also: cat, curiosity, killed

curiosity killed the cat

It's best to mind one's own business. For example, Don't ask about his divorce-curiosity killed the cat. This cautionary expression sounds like the moral of some fable or folktale, but any such origin for it has been lost. The first recorded use was in O. Henry's Schools and Schools (1909).

See also: cat, curiosity, killed

killed (off)

mod. alcohol or drug intoxicated. (Drugs.) The team went out drinking and came home killed off.

See also: killed, off

killed

verb

See killed off