# Slang for dying

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-for-dying/456993>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [July 18, 2008, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-for-dying/456993 "2008-07-18T21:11:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2008, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-for-dying/456993/61 "2008-07-23T11:27:55Z")

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The only one I know of that’s no been covered so far comes from my EMT experience. Well out of earshot of the family, a dead person we have to deal with is refered to as ‘negative patient’.

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**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2008, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-for-dying/456993/62 "2008-07-23T11:57:50Z")

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DRT - dead right there  
DFO - done fall over  
Dirt Dart - aircraft into the ground [generally military]  
Winners of the Darwin Award [like those 2 marines playing quickdraw in the barracks…]  
Relieving the Thresher on station [if you are nervous about the quality of your boat/crew]

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**Author:** ![Dr.Woo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Dr.Woo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Woo)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2008, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-for-dying/456993/63 "2008-07-23T18:47:12Z")

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[Dr. McCoy Voice]: He’s dead, Jim. [/DMV]

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**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\
**Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/slang-for-dying/456993/64 "2008-07-24T01:11:30Z")

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[QUOTE=eleanorigby]  
“croak” I imagine comes from the weird breathing and the sigh that can occur immediately post-life.  
[/QUOTE]  
Or it could come from the sound of the “death rattle” they used in the 19th century. _Croak_ can also mean to kill someone.

_Snuff out_ could refer to how people used to extinguish candles by pinching them with their fingers, as in “Snuff out the candle.”

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