Learn English – what does “among the dead” mean

meaningphrases

I am reading a book that states the hero "knew himself to be among the dead". Does this means that he considered himself as good as dead, or that he understood that all the people around him were dead?

Generally, what does "among the dead" means?

Best Answer

As far as I know, there is no idiomatic usage of "among the dead". It appears to be used in both of the contexts you've provided. In your case, it's that everyone around him is literally dead.

Some quotes:

...those hideous nights when we toss and turn in fever and pain, when we lie, like living men among the dead, staring out into the dark hours that drift so slowly between us and the light. - Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow, Jerome, Jerome K.

If they do not square accounts with me about my cows, I will go down to Hades and shine there among the dead. - Homer, The Odyssey

She did not know any of the names listed among the dead. - Cambridge Dictionary

Naturally, the villagers show up and drive the monster away, and he goes to a graveyard to find solitude among the dead. - a summation of Bride of Frankenstein

There are "dead" idioms, such as, dead as a doornail, dead ringer and over my dead body, but not among the dead.

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