death knell
death knell {n.}, {formal}
1. The ringing of a bell at a death or funeral.
The people mourned at the death knell of their friend.
2. {literary}
Something which shows a future failure.
Bill's poor grade on his final examination sounded the death knell of his hope to be a doctor.
His sudden deafness was the death knell of his hope to become President.
Categories:
Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms
