Dead among the living

Ratna Raman

Dead men (or women) tell no tales” is a threatening expression,  often used    to sanction a killing. Yet,  the use of the word 'dead' in language makes us realise that our love for life has led us to use it in innumerable contexts, thereby softening its sombre impact.   ‘Dead’ is an adjective signifying the cessation of life. 
‘To die’ (verb) is the end of all physiological functioning as we know it. Yet we die anguished   metaphorical deaths each time our worst fears come true.  The noun ‘dye’ despite the phonetic similarity merely refers to colours that can be added to yarn, fabric or hair. 'The verb ‘dyeing’  indicating an activity wherein colour is added on to fabric, hair, fibre and so on.  The vat was full of red ‘dye’(noun). She began ‘dyeing’(verb, present continuous) her hair  after it turned grey. A “dyed in wool socialist” is steadfast  in the manner of dyed wool that invariably retains  the colour it has absorbed.
The   word ‘die’ (verb in the English language differs from its Latin homonym   ‘die’ (day)  which gives us the word diurnal ( daily). The legal expression “adjourned sine die”  (sine (without) die(day) provides unending relief to  plaintiffs  through indefinite postponement.
‘Dead beat’ describes extreme exhaustion.  A dead bore is someone who can metaphorically kill the listener\s interest through uninspiring speech. “As dead as a dodo, is indicative of   extinction, brought about by prolonged human callousness towards other living species. Now that dodos have ceased to exist, the simile   “as dead as a door nail” highlights the total absence of life.
A ‘dead drop’  is an  espionage metaphor  involving  the  exchange of objects or information between two individuals  (who  never  meet)  at  a  secret location.  When we say birds often ‘drop dead’ during hot summers or that someone has ‘dropped dead’ due to a heart attack, the expression reiterates the suddenness and unexpected shock caused by the event. The wish or articulation ‘drop dead’ often directed at annoying individuals is abusive slang.   Nevertheless when we say that Deepika Padukone is 'drop dead gorgeous,'   we mean that she is extraordinarily beautiful.
‘Dead end’   is the point where navigation on a road comes to an end (alley).  Metaphorically, situations that are leading nowhere or not heading towards resolution are termed 'dead end.'  After investigations  reached a dead end,  the  accused was let off for lack of evidence.”
‘Dead zone’ or ‘dead spot’  signify an  area  ecologically  unsuited to supporting life, but could be used to describe the absence of  human activity in public spaces  at night time.
‘Dead ringer,’ first used to describe a horse  substituted for another in racing circles to defraud  bookies  (19th century , US)  now implies an exact  duplicate.  So 'dead ringers' could actually be alive! The words ‘dead shot’ and ‘dead centre’   are free of any inbuilt sting   because ‘dead’ in these instances   does not indicate loss of life. “Dead in the first two cases is used in lieu of ‘exact.’   'Dead heat' implies ‘intense heat.’ 'Dead-right' means being absolutely correct.
‘Dead pan’ denotes a practised lack of facial expression.  “Kanwardeep 's   deadpan  expression  was in direct   contrast  to  his harsh words.”  To ‘play dead’  is an effective survival strategy when overpowered  by man or beast  and involves  keeping oneself very still, as fables involving hungry bears and lions have taught us. Actors ‘play dead’ on stage and on screen all the time.  In yoga, ‘shavasana’ translates  into  posture (asana) of dead body (shav) and is  an incredible method  to induce  relaxed meditation.
'Brain- dead' describes  an irreversible  medical condition  wherein the brain shuts down and  ceases to function . It is used self-deprecatingly to signal extreme mental exhaustion. Colloquially, ‘brain-dead’ implies monumental stupidity attributable to both  people and  actions.