die-die

English

Etymology

Reduplication of die.

Pronunciation

• (Singapore) IPA^(key): /ˈdaɪ˦ ˈdaɪ˦/, /ˈdaɪ˥ ˈdaɪ˥/

Adverb

die-die (not comparable)

1. (Singlish) No matter what, absolutely, even if one dies trying; emphasizes urgency, necessity or commitment.
   • 2004 December 12, Colin Goh, The Sunday Times, Singapore, page L14:

     When we’ve something to say.. we will die-die find the most compelling way to say it to our intended audience.

   • 2006 August 13, Teo Pau Lin, The Sunday Times, Singapore, page L24:

     [O]nly about 100 [hawker] stalls got his highest ranking of “die, die must try”.

   • 2003, kilometric, soc.culture.singapore (Usenet):

     If GCT said die die Punggol 21 must go on, can HDB say no ?

Usage notes

Unlike no matter what, die-die is never placed at the end of a sentence, or anywhere after the verb it modifies.