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to pop one's clogs
01
to stop being alive
Dialect
British
British
Humorous
Idiom
InformalWhat is the origin of the idiom "pop one's clogs" and when to use it?
The idiom "pop one's clogs" is of British origin and is derived from the slang term "clogs," which refers to the wooden-soled shoes commonly worn by workers in the 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in industrial regions of England. When someone would die, their clogs were no longer needed, so they were said to "pop" or "drop" their clogs, signifying their passing. This idiom is used humorously or informally to describe someone's death.
Examples
Nobody lives in that house since old Roger popped his clogs.
Poor old Tom finally popped his clogs at the ripe old age of 95.
