Dead man walking – meaning, origin and usage

Oftentimes, the phrase “dead man walking” is used to refer to someone who is very much alive and well. So, if that’s left you confused, this article will put an end to that.

In this article we will cover what the phrase means and how it originated, before describing how the phrase can be used in conversation, with the aid of a few handy examples. We will also go through some notable instances of the phrase in classic and modern literature and in the media, including film, TV and music.

And, without further ado, let’s get straight to it!

What is the meaning of the phrase “dead man walking”?

While the phrase “dead man walking” was once used to refer to someone who has is physically alive but has been condemned to death, today the phrase is more often used to refer to someone who is in some way doomed, or who will imminently lose something that ought to have been important to them, whether it’s a job or simply their status.

What is the origin of the phrase “dead man walking”?

The phrase “dead man walking” appears to have been around since the 1800s. The primary meaning came from the idea of a condemned man walking from his prison cell to a place of execution.

There are two possible sources of the phrase having this meaning. One refers to the Old Bailey in London which has a Dead Man’s Walk through which condemned prisoners once passed on their way to the gallows.

However, there are also those who say that the phrase comes from America, and more specifically, from the practice of American prison guards announcing a condemned prisoner being led to the execution chamber by calling out “Dead man walking.” This would signify that the prisoner was essentially already dead in the eyes of the law, even though they were still physically walking around.

The guards would call out the phrase “dead man walking” at this time so as to alert other staff and inmates that a death row prisoner was being moved, often indicating they should clear the way or be cautious as the prisoner had nothing to lose at that point.

There was also a poem titled “The Dead Man Walking” written by Thomas Hardy in 1909, but this refers to an emotional death prior to a physical death, so this doesn’t follow on from the condemnation meaning. Moreover, the phrase appears to have been in use before this point in time.

It is speculated that since then, the phrase has been used to refer to anyone on Death Row. The phrase also came to be used more figuratively, by “extension”, the phrase came to be used to refer to “anyone who is in great trouble or difficulty and is certain to face punishment, especially in the form of the loss of a job or loss of status within a group.

The phrase “dead man walking” was further popularised when it was the title of a flim released in the year 1995 starring Susan Sarandon and Sean Pen.

How to use the phrase “dead man walking” with examples

This phrase “dead man walking” is considered to be relaxed and informal and it is commonly used in everyday conversation. Here are some examples of the phrase in use:

• The documentary focused on the stories of several ‘dead men walking’ on death row.
• The team looked like dead men walking after they fell behind by such a large margin in the game.
• After the company’s recent scandals, the CEO is considered a dead man walking.
• It’s inevitable now, the sales team just isn’t getting the clients anymore, we’re all dead men walking. I’m already looking for another job and I think you should be too.
• Be sure to stand by me, because I’m a dead man walking otherwise.
• Watch out people, we’ve got a dea man walking with nothing to lose.

What are some notable uses of the phrase “dead man walking” in literature and the media?

The theme of a dead man walking has come up time and again in classic and modern literature. For example, Sydney Carton in Charles Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities Is a clear representation of a “dead man walking” because he sacrifices himself for another man, accepting his fate long before his execution at the guillotine.

Similarly, Lennie Small ws an example of a “dead man walking” in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, as he unknowingly seals his fate through his actions, moving toward an inevitable demise.

Then, in Stephen King’s novel Green Mile, the character John Coffey, a wrongly accused prison inmate with supernatural abilities, walks toward his execution despite being innocent. The novel was later made into a film.

There has also been a film called Dead Man Walking, and the concept of a dead man walking appears in countless TV series, including Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and Game of Thrones.

There have also been multiple songs called Dead Man Walking from the singers Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Ozzy Osborne, and more.

The phrase is often used in sports such as boxing and mixed martial arts, when fighters who enter a major bout as underdogs are often called “dead men walking” if they are expected to lose badly.

Final word

So, in summary, the phrase “dead man walking” is generally used to refer to someone who is in some way doomed, or who will imminently lose something that ought to have been important to them, whether it’s a job or simply their status.

It is not known who first coined the term or when it first originated, but it is generally thought to be derived from prisons in America when guards would describe a prisoner on death row on their way to meet their execution.

Today, the term is used in a more figurative sense to signify impending doom, in multiple contexts. The theme and the phrase come up time and again in literature, film, TV, sports and music.