PhrasesHub

Shuffle off this mortal coil

    Definitions

      • discourage someone
        Advise against engaging in a particular activity or task, cautioning that it will not result in any positive outcome or benefit

      • euphemism for death
        Refer to someone’s passing in a more poetic or indirect way

    Examples of Shuffle off this mortal coil

    • The elderly patient's condition deteriorated rapidly, and the doctor informed him that it was time for him to "shuffle off this mortal coil."

      The idiom "shuffle off this mortal coil" is a euphemism for dying, which is taken from a line in Shakespeare's Hamlet. The phrase is often used in dramatic or poetic contexts and has a melancholic and literary connotation. Its use here highlights the finality and inevitability of death, which is conveyed through the doctor's somber message to the ailing patient.

    • Jane's health had been declining for months, and her family knew it was time for her to "shuffle off this mortal coil" peacefully.

      This idiom is used to express the idea of someone's death or passing away, specifically using the Bard's memorable phrase from Hamlet. The word "mortal" refers to someone who is subject to death, as opposed to someone who is eternal, divine, or immortal. The word "coil" may seem a bit unfamiliar, but Shakespeare used it in the sense of a serpent or snake shedding its skin, symbolizing the shedding of the physical body at the time of death.

    • It's time for me to face the fact that I'm getting old and will eventually have to "shuffle off this mortal coil."

      This example shows how the expression can be used more personally and directly, as a way to come to terms with one's own mortality. The phrase can also be used as a warning, suggesting that someone's time on this earth is coming to an end.

    • The patient's breathing grew shallower and shallower, and the doctor whispered to the family, "It's time for him to 'shuffle off this mortal coil.'"

      This third example shows how the phrase can be used in a medical context, as a way to describe the final moments of someone's life. The image of someone's body gradually giving up its life force can be both melancholy and poignant, and the idiom provides a powerful way to convey this idea.

    • The old farmer shuffled off this mortal coil in his sleep, surrounded by his family and animals.

      This example shows how the phrase can be used to describe someone's peaceful passing, highlighting the idea that death is a natural part of life, and that those who have lived long and full lives can find comfort in the idea of "shuffling off this mortal coil" in a way that is both graceful and dignified.

    • The old man finally shuffled off this mortal coil after a long and fulfilling life.

      This idiomatic expression is used to describe the process of dying. It comes from William Shakespeare's play Hamlet, where he wrote "To be, or not to be: that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them? To die—to sleep, No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to? 'Tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep; 'Tis better than—than's salvation open'd, Like sacred halls at hand, in sacred theme!" In this context, "mortal coil" refers to the physical body that humans inhabit, and "shuffle off" suggests a gradual or peaceful departure.

    • The artist's music helped her listeners shuffle off this mortal coil and find peace.

      This unique usage of the idiom suggests that the music had a calming effect that helped the listeners approach death with serenity.

    • He watched the sun set and whispered, "It's time for you to shuffle off this mortal coil, my dear."

      In this case, "mortal coil" refers to the sun, which is a physical object that humans witness and experience. This usage highlights the cyclical nature of life and death, as the sun sets each day, only to rise again the following morning.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "shuffle off this mortal coil" can be used to deter someone from pursuing a course of action that is likely to lead to negative consequences. It can also be used as a poetic way to refer to someone's death.

    Origin of "Shuffle off this mortal coil"

    The phrase "shuffle off this mortal coil" is derived from a famous soliloquy in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. In Act 3, Scene 1, Hamlet contemplates the pain and suffering of life and considers the idea of death as a release from the struggles of existence. The phrase "shuffle off this mortal coil" is a poetic way of expressing the idea of casting off the burdens of human life and departing from this world. Over time, the phrase has come to be used more broadly to refer to the act of dying or passing away. Its origins in Shakespeare's work have contributed to its enduring popularity and use in the English language.