die with your boots on

Zanthia · 12-28-2008, 02:06 PM

what does that mean?

to die while you are still actively involved in your work. I never want to retire - I'd rather die with my boots on.

http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/die+with+boots+on

or

to die from violence as opposed to from natural causes (to "die in bed");

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boot ?

rlpw · 12-28-2008, 02:13 PM

It's more along the lines of not dying by wasting away.
As in "Died while still living life the way he wanted to." or "Died with dignity.".

*stepurhan* · 12-29-2008, 01:32 AM

I was always under the impression that it had it's origins in cowboy where there was an implication of violence involved (i.e. shot in a gunfight rather than in bed)

DustyShinigami · 12-29-2008, 04:46 AM

Dang. I thought this was a thread about Iron Maiden's song of the same name.

rlpw · 12-29-2008, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stepurhan

I was always under the impression that it had it's origins in cowboy where there was an implication of violence involved (i.e. shot in a gunfight rather than in bed)

Your watching to many old Westerns my friend. It's just The Cowboy Way.

Lee in Limbo · 12-29-2008, 10:26 AM

I agree with Paul. While the implication is that you die while doing your duty (or at least upholding your honour, by whatever code you held to), I think the point is that, on the day you died, you were doing what you thought was most important in your life. That could be as brave as firefighting in the Rockies or fighting in the Gaza strip, or it could be as simple as dying while working in your garden or working on your latest novel. The point is that you didn't die helpless in a sick bed. There's also a bit of a macho notion that you didn't die peacefully in your death bed at the end of a long, easy life, but really, that's just semantics. Any life can be as easy or as hard as you choose to make it. While the original idea was probably that you hadn't died soft, still, the attitude is that you died living up to your ideals. The Knight's Code, Bushido, The cowboy way, whatever you want to call it, it's all about being your own kind of hero until the day you die.

Zanthia · 12-29-2008, 01:02 PM

Thanks guys.

Quote:

Dang. I thought this was a thread about Iron Maiden's song of the same name

Well, if you mentioned it, It all began when I was looking for lyrics of this song. Although I heard it from Sonata Arctica. Great song.

12-28-2008, 02:06 PM	#1
Zanthia Sky is not the limit Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Kyrandia Posts: 1,496	die with your boots on what does that mean? to die while you are still actively involved in your work. I never want to retire - I'd rather die with my boots on. http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/die+with+boots+on or to die from violence as opposed to from natural causes (to "die in bed"); http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boot ? Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ RUBY + EXOTIC FLOWER = RED POTION TOPAZ + TULIP = YELLOW POTION RED POTION + YELLOW POTION= ORANGE POTION

12-28-2008, 02:13 PM	#2
rlpw Creepy Father Figure Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Texas Dammit! Posts: 5,107	It's more along the lines of not dying by wasting away. As in "Died while still living life the way he wanted to." or "Died with dignity.". Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ The Nature Conservancy www.soulpancake.com www.ted.com Twitter

12-29-2008, 01:32 AM	#3
stepurhan Freeware Co-ordinator Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: South East England. Posts: 7,309	I was always under the impression that it had it's origins in cowboy where there was an implication of violence involved (i.e. shot in a gunfight rather than in bed) Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ No Nonsense Nonsonnets #43 Cold Topic A thread most controversial, that’s what I want to start Full of impassioned arguments, of posting from the heart And for this stimulation all will be thankful to me On come on everybody it won’t work if you agree

12-29-2008, 04:46 AM	#4
DustyShinigami The Quiet One Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Staffordshire, UK Posts: 1,986	Dang. I thought this was a thread about Iron Maiden's song of the same name. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Now Playing: Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars - The Director's Cut (DS and iPhone), DOOM 3: Resurrection of Evil, Hotel Dusk: Room 215, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Justice for All, Silent Hill - HD Collection Recently Completed: Max Payne, Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne Next: Bayonetta, Devil May Cry - HD Collection, Max Payne 3, Metal Gear Solid - HD Collection, Silent Hill: Downpour

12-29-2008, 10:26 AM	#6
Lee in Limbo It's Hard To Be Humble Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,557	I agree with Paul. While the implication is that you die while doing your duty (or at least upholding your honour, by whatever code you held to), I think the point is that, on the day you died, you were doing what you thought was most important in your life. That could be as brave as firefighting in the Rockies or fighting in the Gaza strip, or it could be as simple as dying while working in your garden or working on your latest novel. The point is that you didn't die helpless in a sick bed. There's also a bit of a macho notion that you didn't die peacefully in your death bed at the end of a long, easy life, but really, that's just semantics. Any life can be as easy or as hard as you choose to make it. While the original idea was probably that you hadn't died soft, still, the attitude is that you died living up to your ideals. The Knight's Code, Bushido, The cowboy way, whatever you want to call it, it's all about being your own kind of hero until the day you die. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Lee Edward McImoyle, Author Smashwords eBooks

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