to death

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to death" is correct and usable in written English.
This phrase is generally used to indicate a high degree of something. For example: "I love chocolate to death".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

To death.

The New Yorker

He'll bleed to death".

The New Yorker

He bled to death.

The New York Times

Scares me to death".

The New York Times

/ I'm handcuffed to death.

The New York Times - Books

Homer starved to death.

The New Yorker

Living close to death.

The New Yorker

They're scared to death".

The New York Times

What's that to death?

The New Yorker

"They froze to death".

The New York Times

"I'm scared to death".

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to death" to add emphasis or intensity to a statement, indicating a high degree of something or an action carried out until death. For example, "I love that song to death" expresses a strong liking.

Common error

Avoid using "to death" in formal or professional writing where a more precise or nuanced expression would be appropriate. In those contexts use alternatives like "completely" or "absolutely" to convey intensity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to death" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, adjective, or another adverb. It intensifies the meaning of the word it modifies, often implying a high degree or extent. Ludwig AI examples show that the phrase is generally correct and can be used in many context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

81%

Wiki

7%

Science

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to death" is a versatile adverbial phrase used to intensify the meaning of a verb or adjective, expressing a high degree or extent. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, particularly in news and media. While suitable for general and informal contexts, it should be used cautiously in formal writing where more precise language may be preferred. Common examples include phrases like "scared to death", "bored to death", and "love you to death", illustrating its ability to add emphasis and convey strong feelings or outcomes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

until death

Emphasizes the duration until the end of life.

to the point of dying

Describes an action carried out very close to dying.

to one's dying breath

Highlights acting or feeling something until the very end of life.

fatally

Highlights the deadly outcome.

mortally

Focuses on the potential to cause death.

until the end

Similar to 'until death', but without explicit association with death.

to the bitter end

Indicates perseverance until a negative conclusion.

to the utmost degree

Focuses on the extreme intensity of an action or feeling.

absolutely

Emphasizes the intensity of a verb.

completely

Denotes totality or exhaustion of possibilities or properties.

FAQs

How can I use "to death" in a sentence?

You can use "to death" to emphasize the extent or intensity of an action or feeling. For example, "I played that song "to death"", or "She bored me "to death"".

What does "to death" mean?

The phrase "to death" typically means to an extreme degree, often implying something is done excessively or leads to death. It can indicate a limit or endpoint, as in, "They fought "to death"".

Which is correct, "scared to death" or "scare to death"?

"Scared "to death"" is the correct and more common idiom. "Scare to death" is less frequently used and might sound awkward to native English speakers.

What are some phrases similar to "to death"?

Similar phrases include "until death", "mortally", "fatally", or "to the bitter end", depending on the context.