Put on the wooden overcoat

Definitions

to die
to euphemistically refer to someone passing away

Examples of Put on the wooden overcoat

The salesman gave his best pitch, but the customer just sat there with a blank expression. We should have known we were putting on the wooden overcoat.

When someone puts on the wooden overcoat, it means they become stiff, unresponsive, and uninterested. It's often used to describe someone who seems unusually dull or unresponsive during a performance, presentation, or speech. In this example, the salesman's pitch didn't have the desired effect, and the customer's lack of response led the sales team to realize they had failed to engage him, and he was essentially giving them the "wooden" treatment.
The comedian bombarded the crowd with jokes, but they sat there in silence. It seemed like we were attending a funeral instead of a comedy show. The comedian really put on the wooden overcoat tonight.

Here, the comedian's attempt to make the audience laugh fell flat, and they essentially gave him a cold, stony reception. This behavior from the audience can leave the comedian feeling as though they're wearing a figurative "wooden overcoat," as they're stiff and uninteresting to the audience. This term is often used to describe a performer who fails to connect with their audience and experiences a lack of engagement or enthusiasm.
I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to dance, and my date picked up on my nerves. Throughout the entire evening, she barely acknowledged my existence. It's like I was wearing a wooden overcoat at my own party.

In this example, the speaker entered a social situation, such as a dance or social gathering, with a great deal of apprehension, leading to feelings of stiffness or rigidness. The speaker's date seemed to pick up on his/her nervousness, and the interaction (or lack of interaction) between the two resulted in the speaker feeling as though they were wearing a "wooden overcoat." This idiom is also used when describing someone who seems unresponsive or uninterested in a social situation, like a dinner party, gathering, or other event where people are expected to interact with each other.
The pianist played a flawless performance, but the audience remained utterly still. It was as though they were wearing wooden overcoats.

This example refers to a situation where an audience fails to react or engage with a performer, as if they're wearing a figurative "wooden overcoat." In this case, the audience was conspicuous by their lack of reaction or response to the pianist's performance, leaving the performer feeling as though they were playing to a group of stiff, unresponsive mannequins. This expression is often used to describe situations where an audience fails to respond to a performance in the expected way, no matter how talented or polished the performance might be.
The salesman seemed to be putting on the wooden overcoat during the presentation. He wasn't his usual engaging self, and his demeanor appeared rather stiff and unnatural.

The idiom "put on the wooden overcoat" is used to describe someone who appears artificial or insincere in their behavior, as if they were wearing a figurative "coat" that is unnatural to their usual personality. In this example, the salesman's authentic and engaging character seemed to be replaced with a more rigid and contrived demeanor during the presentation.
After a long and tiring day at work, Sam finally collapsed on the couch and put on the wooden overcoat.

In this example, "put on the wooden overcoat" is used figuratively to describe the act of becoming tired and unresponsive, like a wooden mannequin. Sam's exhaustion caused him to become lifeless and unresponsive, much like a mannequin dressed in a wooden coat.
John's business ideas were so dull and uninspiring that they put the whole team to sleep. It was like they were all wearing wooden overcoats.

Here, "put the whole team to sleep" is a figurative expression for causing others to become extremely bored or uninterested in something, while "wearing wooden overcoats" is used to describe the state of extreme boredom and disinterest that results.
The meeting dragged on for hours, and by the end, everyone was putting on their wooden overcoats.

In this example, "putting on their wooden overcoats" implies that everyone in the meeting had become tired, bored, and unresponsive, much like wooden mannequins.

Conclusion

The idiom "put on the wooden overcoat" is a euphemistic way of saying that someone has died. It is often used in a respectful or solemn manner when discussing someone's passing.

Origin of "Put on the wooden overcoat"

The origin of the idiom "put on the wooden overcoat" can be traced back to the practice of burying the deceased in a wooden casket or coffin. The use of the word "overcoat" in the expression is a metaphor for the coffin, as it is something that covers and encases the body. The use of wood in the expression likely refers to the material traditionally used for making coffins.

The idiom may have originated as a way to speak about death in a more gentle or indirect manner, especially in cultures where discussing death directly may be considered impolite or taboo. It is also possible that the use of the word "overcoat" in the expression is meant to convey the idea of the deceased being dressed for their final journey or "putting on" the garment of death. Overall, the idiom "put on the wooden overcoat" serves as a subtle and respectful way to refer to someone's passing.