a matter of life and death

Meaning

1. Oxford100% of films

   used to describe a situation that is very important or serious

   It's a matter of life and death.

In the movies · 5

• It's a matter of life and death.Oppenheimer2023
• You tell Butch it's a matter of life and death?His Girl Friday1940
• And I thought it was a matter of life and death.Sunset Boulevard1950
• It's a matter of life and death.Scary Movie 22001
• It's a matter of life and death.The Sandlot1993
• Lt's not a matter of life or death, you know?The Three Musketeers2011
• Okay, I'm sorry, but my getting my inheritance is a matter of life or death.The Ultimate Gift2007
• Well, it's a matter of life after death. Now that he's dead, I have a life.Clue1985

Learn it in full scenes

• Oppenheimer2023
  • Bohr Sends Oppenheimer to Göttingen
  • Strauss Offers Oppenheimer a Job
  • Rabi Meets Oppenheimer on a Train
• His Girl Friday1940
  • Hildy Tells Walter She's Remarrying
  • Hildy Quits the Post
  • Walter Meets Bruce Baldwin
• Sunset Boulevard1950
  • The Repo Men Come for the Car
  • Joe Pitches Bases Loaded at Paramount
  • Joe Is Mistaken for the Undertaker

From the same entry

• as a matter of fact
• be another different matter
• for that matter
• it's just a matter of time
• a matter of course
• a matter of hours, minutes
• a matter of record
• no matter
• no matter who, what, where
• the fact is
• be no laughing matter

More idioms

• it's a free country
• come and go
• to bits
• for better or worse
• give the creeps
• come first
• have it your own way
• any moment
• come close
• in the circumstances
• in turn
• hit it off