die on one's arse

English

Verb

die on one's arse (third-person singular simple present dies on one's arse, present participle dying on one's arse, simple past and past participle died on one's arse)

1. (British, Ireland, idiomatic, vulgar slang) To fail completely.

   Synonyms: flop, die a death

   • 2013, Andrew Grice, “Michael Dugher on Labour's 2015 election strategy: This will be the most personal election ever”, in The Independent‎^[1]:

     He explains: "Labour still has its historic competitive advantage – people. Tory party membership is dying on its arse and no one is joining the Liberal Democrats."

   • 2014, Ian Glasper, Burning Britain: The History of UK Punk 1980–1984‎^[2], PM Press, page 18:

     [...] the record failed miserably to chart. "That album died on its arse, to be honest," admits Shane.

2. (British, Ireland, idiomatic, vulgar slang, of a comedian) To be very poorly received by an audience.

   Synonym: die

   • 2008, Frank Skinner, Frank Skinner on the Road: Love, Stand-up Comedy and The Queen Of The Night‎^[3], Arrow Books, published 2009, page 55:

     [...] this was very far from being my best bits. It was me, in various venues, dying on my arse, over and over again.

   • 2018, Romesh Ranganathan, “Romesh Ranganathan: 'If someone says "did you enjoy that?" I know I've died on my arse'”, in The Guardian‎^[4]:

     The worst thing you can say to a comedian right after they come off stage is: "Did you enjoy that?" If somebody says that, I know I’ve died on my arse.