right at the death

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "right at the death" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in sports or storytelling to refer to something happening just before the end of a game or event. Example: "The team scored a goal right at the death, securing their victory in the final moments of the match."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Berahino missed a simple header right at the death.

Independent

Villa took advantage through, first, Dalian Atkinson and then, right at the death, Steve Staunton.

The Guardian - Sport

— DUNCAN IRVING Right at the death, Oscar heads over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

The New York Times

With the same player bringing a save from Fabianski right at the death the drama at the end was intense.

The Guardian - Sport

When Oscar scored Brazil's goal, right at the death, he stood up and roared and the whole bar applauded him and laughed with him.

Independent

9.02pm GMT 17th over: England 119-7 (Bresnan 28, Broad 2); target 171 Andre Russell is introduced to the West Indies attack, right at the death.

The Guardian - Sport

He oversaw embarrassing defeats in the build up – 6-1 in Bolivia, 3-1 at home to Brazil – and qualified for South Africa right at the death.

The Guardian - Sport

There were four or five moments where the game did open up, most notably right at the death when Martial played in Jesse Lingard only for his neat flick to hit the bar.

The Guardian - Sport

6.57pm GMT FULL TIME: Anzhi Makhachkala 0-0 Alkmaaragg (agg 0-1) somethinghappenedpened in Russia, but it was only Karlen Mkrtchyan of Anzhi Makhachkala getting himself sent off for a professional foul right at the death.

The Guardian - Sport

Wigan, for all their possession, could not muster anything in response, and their frustration spilled over right at the death when James McClean was sent off for his second bookable offence.

The Guardian - Sport

It will never escape my recollections of the night, though, that Christian Vieri missed a header right at the death that could easily have won the game for Italy and sent us instead into a play-off tie.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "right at the death" to add a dramatic or urgent tone when describing events occurring extremely close to the end of a process, game, or period. It is particularly effective in sports writing.

Common error

Avoid using "right at the death" in formal or academic writing. Its informal tone might be inappropriate. Opt for more neutral alternatives like "at the last moment" or "at the very end".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "right at the death" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when an action occurred. Ludwig confirms its use in describing events that happen very close to the end of a period or event.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "right at the death" functions as an adverbial phrase, commonly employed in news and media to describe events occurring very close to the end of a process, particularly in sports contexts. According to Ludwig, it effectively emphasizes the timing and can add a dramatic effect. While grammatically correct, its informal tone makes it less suitable for formal or academic writing, where alternatives like "at the last moment" or "at the very end" are preferred.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the last moment

This alternative is more general and can be used in a wider variety of contexts, not just time-sensitive events.

at the eleventh hour

This alternative evokes a sense of urgency and narrow escape, adding a more dramatic tone.

in the nick of time

This alternative suggests averting a negative outcome by acting just before it's too late.

at the very end

This alternative is a straightforward and literal way of expressing the timing of an event.

in the final moments

This alternative emphasizes the closing stages of an event, highlighting the brevity of the time frame.

as time expired

More formal and often used in sports contexts, signifying the end of the allocated time.

with no time to spare

This alternative highlights the lack of remaining time, adding a sense of pressure.

at the tail end

This alternative focuses on the final portion or segment of an event or period.

in the waning moments

Emphasizes the decline and nearing conclusion of a period.

as the clock ran down

Specifically refers to situations with a timed duration, such as games or deadlines.

FAQs

How can I use "right at the death" in a sentence?

You can use "right at the death" to describe an event that occurs very close to the end of something. For instance, "The team scored the winning goal "right at the death"." It is commonly used in sports reporting.

What's a less colloquial alternative to "right at the death"?

If you need a more formal alternative, you could use phrases like "at the last moment", "at the very end", or "in the final moments" instead of "right at the death".

Is "right at the death" appropriate for academic writing?

Generally, "right at the death" is considered too informal for academic writing. More suitable options would be "at the conclusion" or "at the end of the period".

What's the difference between "right at the death" and "at the eleventh hour"?

While both phrases indicate something happening very late, "at the eleventh hour" often implies a sense of urgency and rescue from a potential crisis, whereas "right at the death" simply denotes the timing without necessarily implying a crisis.