A fate worse than death.
A fate worse than death.
Meaning in plain English
The phrase compares an ordeal with something worse than death. It expresses extreme dread or suffering through exaggeration.
Example
A reader recognises a character’s extreme dread without accepting the comparison as a judgment of anyone’s life.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The comparison conveys intensity, not an objective ranking of lives or experiences. A responsible explanation should not repeat the supplied gloss’s suggestion that misfortune makes life worthless. Distress deserves attention and support, and the phrase does not establish that death is preferable.
When to use it
Use it to explain emotional intensity rather than a literal valuation of life.
Keep in mind
No life is shown worthless by hardship, and no preference for death is established.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- Contributor-provided proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 480; PDF page 71
Reuse and collection notes ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · supplied collection
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
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Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
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