He's snuffing out of life.

Question

HiI was watching an interview of a person who was talking about his relative who had been kidnapped and was being tortured. I think I heard him say something like this: COULD you please help?I couldn't bear the thought any longer. He's snuffing out of life.I couldn't bear the thought any longer. They are snuffing him out of life.I couldn't bear the thought any longer. There is nothing out of his life.Thanks,Tom

Ivanhr · Accepted Answer

I've never heard "snuffing out of life". Is it possible that you've heard "shuffling out of life" ?

CalifJim · Answer

Mr. TomI think I heard him say something like this

You probably heard this: They are snuffing out his life.

Compare: to snuff out a candle.

CJ

Ivanhr · Answer

CJ, just out of curiosity, do you ever use "shuffle out of life" in your part of the world?.

CalifJim · Answer

IvanhrCJ, just out of curiosity, do you ever use "shuffle out of life" in your part of the world?.

No. It seems much too Shakespearean. ("shuffle off this mortal coil", isn't that the quote?)

CJ

Ivanhr · Answer

CalifJimIvanhrCJ, just out of curiosity, do you ever use "shuffle out of life" in your part of the world?.No. It seems much too Shakespearean. ("shuffle off this mortal coil", isn't that the quote?) CJ

Perhaps it is but being a fan of Nick Cave's music I know the phrase from this song http://www.lyricsdepot.com/nick-cave-and-the-bad-seeds/the-mercy-seat.html
Nick is from Australia so maybe this phrase is more wide-spread down under.

CalifJim · Answer

IvanhrNick Cave

Maybe Nick just invented his own fanciful version of Shakespeare's line rather than using a commonly used idiom in Australian English. I'm just speculating. I don't know many idioms of Australian English.

CJ

Ivanhr · Answer

Yes, could be, but apparently the phrase hasn't caught on (yet).

He's snuffing out of life.

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