English, baby!

to death

Date: Apr 05 2001

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

“It’s been covered to death in movies and books.”
- Jay Leno, tv talk show host, talking about his problems with his ex-producer.

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

too much, more than necessary, a lot
(This term has nothing to do with actual death. It’s implying that something is done so much that it feels like it might kill you. If you’re doing something “to death,” you’re doing it so much that you’re sick and tired of doing it.)

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

Use of this slang term is tricky. It’s best used when you want to express that something has been done too much. It shouldn’t be used to describe a quantity of things. So, while you can say, “My little brother is bothering me ‘to death.’” You shouldn’t say, “My little brother has ‘to death’ toys.” It just wouldn’t make sense.

Examples

1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.

””I’m so tired of hearing Britney Spears. The radio plays her to death, and now she has that Pepsi commercial on TV. When is Britney-mania going to be over?”“

””I better pass my math test. I’ve been studying to death.”“

””Kobe Bryant is shooting the ball to death. I think he needs to pass it to Shaq more often.”“

””Anne is such a sweet person. I just love her to death.” (This is meant in a positive way)”

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

I guess ”...to death” means “be far gone”, ” extremity”, “exceeding”, “beyond measure”.
by Shirley (Guangdong, China)
”...to death” means “extremely often”.
by Ryan (Toronto, Canada)
Something mentioned many times ~~unnecesary~~
by Rodolfo
”...To death” means to put or do something beyond endurance, something that is excessively, for example, “I am bored to death” means that ‘I am bored in an excessively manner.’
by Francisco (Maracaibo, Venezuela)
“To death” means “extremely”, “a lot”, “completely”, “maximum”.
by Teofilo
“to death” means very much, alot. “I love you to death” means I love you dearly.
by Bushra (Bahrain)
The idea has been over used and therefore is no longer interesting.
by Danny (Monzón – Huesca, Spain )
This slang “to death” means “to the extreme limit” or “excessively”. Thus we have, “It’s been covered excessively in movies and books”.
by amafg

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