dead serious

Meaning

'Dead serious' is an idiomatic phrase used to emphasize that someone is completely sincere, honest, or grave about a matter. In this context, 'dead' acts as an intensifier meaning 'absolutely' or 'completely.' It is used to assure others that a statement is not a joke or an exaggeration.

Examples

• I am dead serious; we need to leave right now or we'll miss the flight.

  I am dead serious; we need to leave right now or we'll miss the flight.

• Are you dead serious about quitting your job to travel the world?

  Are you dead serious about quitting your job to travel the world?

• He had a dead serious look on his face when he told us the news.

  He had a dead serious look on his face when he told us the news.

• I'm dead serious, this is the best burger I have ever eaten in my life.

  I'm dead serious, this is the best burger I have ever eaten in my life.

• She was dead serious when she threatened to call the police on the noisy neighbors.

  She was dead serious when she threatened to call the police on the noisy neighbors.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I am deadly serious about this.

  ✓ I am dead serious about this.

  While 'deadly serious' is sometimes used in British English, 'dead serious' is much more common in casual American slang and conversational English.

• ✗ He is dead seriously.

  ✓ He is dead serious.

  'Serious' is an adjective describing a person's state, so we use the adjective form 'serious' rather than the adverb 'seriously' after the verb 'to be'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I am ___ serious; I saw a bear in the backyard.

  💡 An intensifier meaning completely or absolutely.

  Show answer

  dead

• Are you ___ about moving to Japan next month?

  💡 Are you completely sincere and not joking?

  Show answer

  dead serious