answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

The phrase means 'Dead beyond doubt'. While the origin of the phrase is still disputed, doornails (circa 1350) are heavily-studded nails used to strengthen exterior passage doors. The expensive homes used them for ornamentation as well. To add strength and prevent theft, the nail was clinched on the inside, making it 'dead', or, unable to be re-used for the same purpose.

User Avatar

Alessandro Keeling

Lvl 9
2y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What does deader than a doornail mean?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

Are Rowan and Martin of Laugh-In fame dead?

Deader than a doornail. Rowan died of cancer years back. Martin lived until he was 86.


What does dead as a doornail mean?

dead as a doornail means it cant ever be used again


What is a DOORNAIL as in Deader Than A Doornail?

A doornail (coined c. 1350) is a very large studded nail on the outside of wooden doors, often used to nail on the metal strips which gave the door additional strength. They were also used as an ornamentational device. The more expensive homes had these metal, heavily-studded nails rather than wooden pegs, like the regular folks had. The doornails were 'clinched' on the inside of the door to prevent theft and give additional strength. Once clinched, the nail is 'dead', as in, it cannot be used again for that purpose.


When is the book Monster High Back And Deader Than Ever being released?

Back And Deader Than Ever was released on May 1, 2012.


Deader than a doornail?

The expression is 700 or 800 years old. It obviously refers to making doors with the use of nails. A long nail was driven through the joint and the protruding point 'turned over' or 'clinched' so that it could not be removed. Under these circumstances the nail was considered 'dead' - hence the expression


What is a metaphor for dead grass?

That grass is deader than a skeleton!


Why are scorpions deader than the black widow spider?

more poison


When was Dead as a Doornail created?

Dead as a Doornail was created on 2005-05-03.


How many people have the name deader as their surname?

I can't provide an exact number of people with the last name "deader" as it is not a common surname. It is possible that there are only a few or even no individuals with that specific surname.


How do you use dead as a doornail in a sentence?

Example sentence - The bug was dead as a doornail after he stepped on it.


What are the characters from monster high 4 back and deader than ever?

So ease figure it out


What is an example of an idiom in A Christmas Carol?

The opening line of the book, "Old Marley was dead as a doornail." Dead as a doornail is an idiom.