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A doornail (coined c. 1350) is a very large studded nail on the outside of wooden doors, often used to nail on the metal strips which gave the door additional strength. They were also used as an ornamentational device. The more expensive homes had these metal, heavily-studded nails rather than wooden pegs, like the regular folks had. The doornails were 'clinched' on the inside of the door to prevent theft and give additional strength. Once clinched, the nail is 'dead', as in, it cannot be used again for that purpose.
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Are Rowan and Martin of Laugh-In fame dead?
Deader than a doornail. Rowan died of cancer years back. Martin lived until he was 86.
When was Dead as a Doornail created?
Dead as a Doornail was created on 2005-05-03.
How do you use dead as a doornail in a sentence?
Example sentence - The bug was dead as a doornail after he stepped on it.
What does dead as a doornail mean?
dead as a doornail means it cant ever be used again
What is an example of an idiom in A Christmas Carol?
The opening line of the book, "Old Marley was dead as a doornail." Dead as a doornail is an idiom.
Is as dead as a doornail a metaphor?
Yes, "dead as a doornail" is a metaphor. It compares the state of absolute death to the common object of a doornail to emphasize the finality and lifelessness.
Is Babe Ruth dead?
yeah, as a doornail.
Is Jake t Austin dead?
NO jk he is dead as a doornail.
Is dead as a doornail an idiom hyperbole or a simile?
It is actually an idiom.
Which Shakespeare play has the phrase 'Dead as a doornail'?
Henry IV
Is Jake T Austin really dead?
NO jk he is dead as a doornail.
Deader than a doornail?
The expression is 700 or 800 years old. It obviously refers to making doors with the use of nails. A long nail was driven through the joint and the protruding point 'turned over' or 'clinched' so that it could not be removed. Under these circumstances the nail was considered 'dead' - hence the expression
