knock on heaven's door

English

Verb

knock on heaven's door (third-person singular simple present knocks on heaven's door, present participle knocking on heaven's door, simple past and past participle knocked on heaven's door)

1. (idiomatic) To die or be close to death.
   • 2011, Lesley Ann Eden, Beyond Belief in the Land of Rhythm, page 200:

     I had knocked on heaven's door but they didn't let me in!

   • 2022, Jack Woodside, P.O.S.H. Portside Out – Starboard Home My Life Story:

     During my stay in the high dependency ward I also knocked on heaven's door. At one point I had to be resuscitated and after being resuscitated I found one of the resuscitation discs still on my chest.