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A nail in somebody’s/something’s coffin

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Metaphorical MeaningPlay
It's used to represent gradual harm, not actual nails or coffins. SlideSkipping classes was another nail in his academic coffin.
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Negative ContextPlay
The phrase usually describes negative developments leading to failure. SlideThe new tax laws became a nail in the coffin for the struggling small business.
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Not LiteralPlay
Understand it's an idiom; don't take the words 'nail' or 'coffin' literally. SlideMismanagement was a nail in the coffin of the project.
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