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As Dead As a Dodo (Origin)
by Craig ShrivesWhat Is the Origin of the Saying "As Dead As a Dodo"?
If something is said to be as dead a dodo, it is not working, obsolete, or unavailable. It refers to the flightless and now extinct bird that was taken by sailors to their ship and kept alive for fresh meat. The Portuguese named the birds doudo, meaning stupid. Dodos were caught and eaten into extinction during the 17th Century. Thereafter, the phrase passed into the English language.Previous and Next Sayings
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