Biological clock

[Allen165]

"Her biological clock was stopping to tick."

The above sentence is supposed to mean that the person was close to dying. Is that how you understand it? I'm not sure the term "biological clock" can be used in this way.

Thanks.

 

[billmcd]

The only way I have heard the expression used was in reference to a woman's fertility.

 

[emsr2d2]

The only way I have heard the expression used was in reference to a woman's fertility.

Same for me! As far as I know, that's the only meaning of biological clock.

 

[Allen165]

What would then be a good way of expressing that she was about to die?

How about "Her time was ticking away."?

Thanks.

 

[emsr2d2]

What would then be a good way of expressing that she was about to die?

How about "Her time was ticking away."?

Thanks.

If you want to stick with "clock" analogy, yes, or "Her time on earth was ticking away", although I guess that could be said about all of us, all the time!

Her life was ebbing away is another possibility, though not clock-related.

 

[Raymott]

What would then be a good way of expressing that she was about to die?

How about "Her time was ticking away."?

Thanks.

How about, "She was dying", "She was near/close to death", "She didn't have long / much longer to live".

Then, of course, there are, "She was about to shuffle off her mortal coil", "She's about to kick the bucket", "She was soon to be bereft of life", etc.

 

[emsr2d2]

How about, "She was dying", "She was near/close to death", "She didn't have long / much longer to live".

Then, of course, there are, "She was about to shuffle off her mortal coil", "She's about to kick the bucket", "She was soon to be bereft of life", etc.

Ah, the Dead Parrot sketch! Always a welcome addition to anyone's vocabulary!

 

[~Mav~]

What would then be a good way of expressing that she was about to die?

How about "Her time was ticking away."?

How about "Her time was almost through."? It's simple, but I think in proper context it would convey the meaning you are after.
(From Jesus Christ Superstar: “My time is almost through. Little left to do...")

Mind though that I'm neither a teacher, nor a native English speaker.


PS:

@Raymott

I wanted to come up with this sketch! ;-) (Though I think the credit goes to Shakespeare for the phrase "to shuffle off this mortal coil". ) Oh, and "she will cease to be". :idea:


PPS:

Ah, the Dead Parrot sketch! Always a welcome addition to anyone's vocabulary!

And, inspired by another famous piece of theirs: "she will draw her terminal breath" (soon).

 

[emsr2d2]

How about "Her time was almost through."? It's simple, but I think in proper context it would convey the meaning you are after.
(From Jesus Christ Superstar: “My time is almost through. Little left to do...")

Mind though that I'm neither a teacher, nor a native English speaker.


PS:

@Raymott

I wanted to come up with this sketch! ;-) (Though I think the credit goes to Shakespeare for the phrase "to shuffle off this mortal coil". ) Oh, and "she will cease to be". :idea:


PPS:


And, inspired by another famous piece of theirs: "she will draw her terminal breath" (soon).

Ah yes, we must always look on the bright side of life! As an aside, I performed the Dead Parrot sketch last summer to a mixed group of native speakers and Spanish students of English. I'm really not sure what they made of it!

Anyway, I think "Her time was almost through" or "Her time was almost up" work just as well.