mortal coil
The phrase 'mortal coil' originates from Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' and reflects the complexities and struggles of human life.
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Definition
C1General
(literary)The troubles and hardships of daily life.
Example
- He spoke of the mortal coil with a weariness that came from years of struggle.
C1Philosophy
(literary, idiomatic)The human body and its transient existence.
Example
- The poet mused on the nature of the mortal coil and the inevitability of death.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "mortal coil":