dead and (buried|gone)
1
*** no longer living: dead
2
(of a thing) cannot happen or exist again in the future, due to being completely finished in the past
The idiom "dead and buried" originates from the literal concept of death and burial and the undeniable fact that once someone is dead and buried, their memory is gradually forgotten. It is used metaphorically to indicate that something or someone is completely finished, over, or irretrievable. In other words, it emphasizes the finality and permanence of a situation or the complete absence of something or someone.
- The controversial proposal was dead and buried after it was overwhelmingly rejected by the board.
- The once popular trend of wearing bell-bottom pants is dead and gone, replaced by new fashion styles.
- After losing the election, his political career was considered dead and buried.
- The old factory that had been a symbol of the town's industrial past is now dead and gone, replaced by modern developments.
- With the rise of digital music streaming, physical CDs are slowly becoming dead and buried as a popular format for music consumption.