Sometimes, things really are serious.
The stock situation — and
Stock Phrase — 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 — such as the
Cavalier Competitor — may also be told "This is
Not a Game."
When the stock phrase is used erroneously, it's probably an example of
Serious Business.
Not to be confused with the 1946 David Niven movie
A Matter of Life and Death or the 2006
Iron Maiden album of the same name.
Definitely should not be confused with the
Wallace & Gromit short, "A Matter of Loaf and Death".
Examples:
Literature
- In Dan Abnett's Gaunt'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.
- The Stainless Steel Rat. The con-man title character says this while posing as a League Admiral, then quietly reprimands himself for over-playing his part.
- In L. Jagi Lamplighter's Prospero Lost, when Miranda complains about Mab's driving, he says she had told him it was a matter of life and death.
- In Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Rachel uses this on her father to convince him that Percy is in danger.
- In Sandy Mitchell's Cain's Last Stand, Ciaphas Cain, hearing Magos Tayber wants to talk to him, knows it's a matter of life and death because she didn't vox him.
- In Terry Pratchett's Mort, Mort wakes up Ysabelle 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 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 ('Unexpected'):
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 ('The Price'}:
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?
- The Twilight Zone ('Perchance to Dream'):
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. 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.
Smart: Operator, this is a matter of life and death!
Operator: That's what they all say.
Film
- The Big Lebowski:
Walter Sobchak: I'm saying, I see what you're getting at, Dude, he kept the money. My point is, here we are, it's shabbas, the sabbath, which I'm allowed to break only if it's a matter of life or death...
- A Clockwork Orange:
Alex: Missus! It's a matter of life and death!
- Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian:
The Thinker statue:
'I'll tell you what's the matter of life and death: THAT GIRL OVER THERE.
- The Wild Thornberrys movie. Eliza says this to her boarding school roommate when she has to leave.
Video Games
Web Comics
Fan Fiction
- In Fire Burns, Katherine is convincing James to let her into the Gryffindor common room. James is being difficult.
James:Come back tomorrow. If it's that important, I'm sure you'll still remember it.
Katherine:It's very important, James.
James:Oh yeah? A matter of life and death, I suppose.
Katherine:(smiling unpleasantly) Damn straight.
