to the death

to the death

1. (set phrase, of a contest) That will continue until one of the contestants dies.

   The two gladiators fought to the death.

   • 1946 December 5, Military Information: Sinkiang Rebellions 1931-1937‎^[1], page 9:

     Within the independent government of the East Turkestan Republic, while Sabid-da-Mulla insisted upon defending the Old City of Kashgar to the death, Mahum and Nias wanted to quit the Old City for the time being, withdraw to Ying-chi-sha, and plan a second uprising.

2. (idiomatic) To the utmost degree.
   • 1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I, page 208:

     Then, alluding with a toss of the head to the tumult in the station-yard, ‘When one has got to make correct entries, one comes to hate those savages - hate them to the death.’ He remained thoughtful for a moment.

• fight to the death

• to death