Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Very impressive; spectacular.
  • adjective Of or relating to a deadline that cannot be changed.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective very impressive or spectacular

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb extremely

Etymologies

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Examples

  • If Congress doesn't reach an agreement by Aug. 2, the so-called drop-dead date as determined by the Treasury Department, the government could find itself unable to meet all its obligations.

    USAA, Others to Offer Pay Advances to Military Members if Checks Get Disrupted David Benoit 2011

  • From eastern and mid-west woodlands, these native poppy relatives bloom in early spring with flowers made up of layers of satiny white, paper-thin petals that can only be described as drop-dead gorgeous!

    The Seattle Times 2011

  • Yet he wasn’t what she would call drop-dead gorgeous, or even handsome, at least not in the usual sense, and perhaps that was what appealed to her.

    HEARTBREAKER JULIE GARWOOD 2000

  • Yet he wasn’t what she would call drop-dead gorgeous, or even handsome, at least not in the usual sense, and perhaps that was what appealed to her.

    HEARTBREAKER JULIE GARWOOD 2000

  • In fact, I question whether any date prior to January 6 is a drop-dead date under the Florida election scheme.

    The Conservative Assault on the Constitution Erwin Chemerinsky 2010

  • Justice Leander Shaw, in a concurring opinion, declared: In my opinion, December 12 was not a ‘drop-dead’ date under Florida law.

    The Conservative Assault on the Constitution Erwin Chemerinsky 2010

  • You want to look amazing, stunning, drop-dead gorgeous, and—most important—feel comfortable and confident in your wedding gown.

    My Fair Wedding David Tutera 2011

  • Did you ever notice a stranger from across the room at a party or at a meeting at work who was drop-dead gorgeous, but who, once you got to know him or her better, suddenly wasn't as attractive anymore?

    What Makes a Person Ugly? 2011

  • So what if they're drop-dead gorgeous and stinking rich?

    Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore booed in Brazil Liz Kelly 2011

  • The Guard has some of the best one-liners and drop-dead observations I've heard for a while, but I won't spoil them for you.

    Berlin film festival – review 2011

Comments

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  • As in "drop-dead gorgeous".

    December 30, 2006

  • To be used very sparingly or it loses it's meaning. How many girls were drop-dead gorgeous? Maybe one or two per decade. Raquel Welch, Rita Hayworth, Ava Gardner, Audrey Hepburn, Heddy Lamarr, Carmella Bing?

    January 22, 2013