from my cold, dead hands

• from my cold, dead fingers

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from my cold, dead hands

1. (literally, chiefly hyperbolic) Only after my death.

   Synonym: over my dead body

   I won't have the government instituting gun control! They can have my shotgun when they pry it from my cold, dead hands.

2. (idiomatic) Never; not under any circumstances.

   You want me to sell you a family heirloom like this? Tsk, you can take it from my cold, dead hands.