Matter of Life and Death: Difference between revisions

The stock situation -- andsituation—and [[Stock Phrase]] -- is—is a [['''Matter of Life and Death]]'''. The [[Obstructive Bureaucrat]] is prone to get this flung in his face. Although considerable variation is allowed in the face of different situations: whatever the problem is (or problems are) can be used instead.

People on your side who do not take it seriously -- suchseriously—such as the [[Cavalier Competitor]] -- may—may also be told "This is [[Not a Game]]."

When the stock phrase is used erroneously, it's probably an example of [[Serious Business]] or [[Skewed Priorities]].

Not to be confused with the 1946 David Niven movie ''[[A Matter of Life and Death]]'' or the 2006 [[Iron Maiden (Music)|Iron Maiden]] album of the same name. ''Definitely'' should not be confused with the [[Wallace and Gromit]] short, "A Matter of Loaf and Death".

{{examples|Examples:}}

* In [[Dan Abnett]]'s [[GauntsGaunt's Ghosts]] novel ''Ghostmaker'', Dorden has authority to go into the ship's supplies, and yells at someone trying to check up on him: he is trying to get medical supplies for a soldier in critical condition.

* In L. Jagi Lamplighter's ''[[ProsperosProspero's Daughter|Prospero Lost]]'', when Miranda complains about Mab's driving, he says she had told him it was a matter of life and death.

* In [[Terry Pratchett]]'s ''[[Discworld (Literature)/Mort|Mort]]'', Mort wakes up YsabelleYsabel in the middle of the night and demands she come help him, urging that it's a matter of life and death. (Death had vanished.)

* In Angie Sage's [[Septimus Heap (Literature)|Septimus Heap]] book ''Flyte'', Jenna insists on a message being sent because it's a matter of life and death. Later, when Marcia and Aunt Zelda quarrels, it's on the grounds that it's a matter of life and death.

== [[Live -Action TV]] ==

* ''[[Heroes (TV series)|Heroes]]'' ('Unexpected'):

{{quote| '''Matt Parkman''': [To Ted] ''Hey, I only came here because you said this was a matter of life and death. You can't go blowing anything more up.''}}

* ''[[Star Trek the Next Generation|Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' ('The Price'}):

{{quote| '''Devinoni Ral''': ''Yes - protection. Your protection, your captain, your crew, your...edge. Yes. Now, it's a matter of life and death when you take the advantage; me...I deal in property - exchanges. Nobody gets hurt. So you tell me - which one of us would you say has more of a problem with ethics?''}}

{{quote| '''Narrator: [opening narration]''' ''Twelve o'clock noon. An ordinary scene, an ordinary city. Lunchtime for thousands of ordinary people. To most of them, this hour will be a rest, a pleasant break in the day's routine. To most, but not all. To Edward Hall, time is an enemy, and the hour to come is a matter of life and death.''}}

* Spoofed in ''[[Get Smart (TV)|Get Smart]]''. Maxwell Smart is trapped in a phone booth that's flooding with water. He tries to ring Control for help, but finds he's run out of quarters.

{{quote| '''Smart:''' Operator, this is a matter of life and death!<br />

{{quote| '''Vault Dweller''': ''I would much rather tell him in person. It's a matter of life and death.''}}

* In ''[[Anti HEROES]]'', [https://web.archive.org/web/20130518215257/http://www.antiheroescomic.com/comic/40 used for ] [[Serious Business]] -- like—like expired milk.