Finding the right words can be hard when someone is facing emotional pain. Supportive metaphors help people feel understood, valued, and less alone during their darkest moments.
This article explains gentle and meaningful metaphors that express care, hope, and support when talking about suicide prevention. You will find simple meanings, two example sentences for each, and alternative ways to say them.
Why Do We Use Metaphors for Suicide?
Metaphors serve several important purposes when discussing suicide:
- They provide emotional distance from a traumatic or painful subject
- They allow indirect communication when direct words feel too difficult
- They appear frequently in literature and poetry as artistic expressions
- They help us understand complex emotional states through familiar imagery
- They can signal distress in subtle ways that loved ones might recognize
60+ Common Metaphors for Suicide
1. Taking the Final Exit
Meaning: Choosing to end one’s life as if leaving through a door permanently
In a Sentence:
- After years of battling depression, he wrote in his journal about considering the final exit.
- The novel’s protagonist contemplated taking the final exit before finding hope again.
Other Ways to Say:
- Making the ultimate departure
- Choosing the last way out
2. Ending One’s Story
Meaning: Viewing life as a narrative that one chooses to conclude prematurely
In a Sentence:
- She felt like ending her story was the only way to stop the pain.
- The therapist helped him see that there were many chapters left before his story needed to end.
Other Ways to Say:
- Closing the final chapter
- Writing the last page
3. Crossing to the Other Side
Meaning: Passing from life to death, like crossing a boundary or threshold
In a Sentence:
- In his darkest moments, he thought about crossing to the other side.
- The poem spoke of crossing to the other side as a release from suffering.
Other Ways to Say:
- Passing beyond the veil
- Moving to the other realm
4. Checking Out Early
Meaning: Leaving life before one’s natural time, like leaving a hotel prematurely
In a Sentence:
- He told his friend he was tired of everything and thinking about checking out early.
- The memoir discussed her teenage years when she almost checked out early.
Other Ways to Say:
- Leaving before the time comes
- Departing ahead of schedule
5. Pulling the Plug
Meaning: Ending one’s life deliberately, like disconnecting life support
In a Sentence:
- During his crisis, he felt like pulling the plug on everything.
- The counselor recognized the metaphor when the student mentioned pulling the plug.
Other Ways to Say:
- Switching off the lights
- Cutting the cord
6. Jumping Ship
Meaning: Abandoning life when circumstances become too difficult
In a Sentence:
- When everything fell apart, she considered jumping ship entirely.
- The support group discussed feelings of wanting to jump ship during hard times.
Other Ways to Say:
- Abandoning the voyage
- Leaving the vessel
7. Going to Sleep Forever
Meaning: Ending one’s life as a permanent form of rest or escape
In a Sentence:
- He wrote about wanting to go to sleep forever and never wake up.
- The hotline counselor recognized the phrase about going to sleep forever as a warning sign.
Other Ways to Say:
- Entering eternal rest
- Falling into permanent sleep
8. Stepping Off the Edge
Meaning: Taking the final action that leads to death, like stepping off a cliff
In a Sentence:
- She stood metaphorically at the edge, deciding whether to step off or step back.
- The intervention came just in time before he stepped off the edge.
Other Ways to Say:
- Taking the final leap
- Crossing the boundary
9. Extinguishing the Flame
Meaning: Ending one’s life force, like putting out a candle
In a Sentence:
- The poet wrote about extinguishing the flame that had burned for too long.
- In his depression, he spoke of his light fading and wanting to extinguish the flame completely.
Other Ways to Say:
- Snuffing out the light
- Putting out the fire
10. Cutting the Thread
Meaning: Severing one’s connection to life, like cutting a thread that holds everything together
In a Sentence:
- In Greek mythology, the Fates cut the thread of life, but she contemplated cutting her own thread.
- The therapist helped him understand that cutting the thread wasn’t the answer.
Other Ways to Say:
- Severing the lifeline
- Breaking the connection
11. Dropping the Curtain
Meaning: Ending one’s life as if concluding a theatrical performance
In a Sentence:
- He felt like dropping the curtain on the performance he’d been giving for years.
- The final act seemed like the only way to drop the curtain on his suffering.
Other Ways to Say:
- Closing the show
- Ending the performance
12. Shutting Down
Meaning: Ceasing to function permanently, like a machine that’s turned off
In a Sentence:
- When the pain became unbearable, she thought about just shutting down completely.
- The psychiatrist recognized the language about shutting down as concerning.
Other Ways to Say:
- Powering off permanently
- Going offline forever
13. Taking the Dark Path
Meaning: Choosing death over life, viewed as a journey into darkness
In a Sentence:
- Despite his struggles, his family helped him avoid taking the dark path.
- The novel’s character stood at a crossroads between light and the dark path.
Other Ways to Say:
- Walking into the shadows
- Choosing the darkened road
14. Escaping the Prison
Meaning: Viewing suicide as freedom from life’s suffering, seen as imprisonment
In a Sentence:
- He described his depression as a prison and contemplated escaping permanently.
- The support group discussed healthier ways to escape the prison of mental illness.
Other Ways to Say:
- Breaking free from the cage
- Fleeing the confinement
15. Throwing in the Towel
Meaning: Giving up on life completely, like a boxer surrendering a fight
In a Sentence:
- After years of battling, she felt like throwing in the towel for good.
- The counselor helped him see alternatives to throwing in the towel.
Other Ways to Say:
- Surrendering the fight
- Giving up the battle
16. Closing the Book
Meaning: Ending one’s life story permanently
In a Sentence:
- He felt ready to close the book on a life filled with pain.
- Before closing the book, she reached out to a crisis line and found help.
Other Ways to Say:
- Shutting the volume
- Finishing the manuscript
17. Disappearing into the Void
Meaning: Ceasing to exist, vanishing into nothingness
In a Sentence:
- During his crisis, he fantasized about disappearing into the void completely.
- The poem spoke of disappearing into the void as an escape from reality.
Other Ways to Say:
- Vanishing into emptiness
- Fading into nothing
18. Boarding the Last Train
Meaning: Taking the final journey that leads to death
In a Sentence:
- In his darkest hour, he thought about boarding the last train out.
- The metaphor of boarding the last train appeared throughout the author’s work.
Other Ways to Say:
- Catching the final departure
- Taking the ultimate journey
19. Breaking Free from the Chain
Meaning: Ending life to escape from suffering that feels binding
In a Sentence:
- She viewed death as breaking free from the chain of endless pain.
- The therapist offered healthier ways to break free from the chain of depression.
Other Ways to Say:
- Shattering the shackles
- Releasing the bonds
20. Dissolving into Nothing
Meaning: Ceasing to exist, like something that disappears completely
In a Sentence:
- He described wanting to dissolve into nothing and be forgotten.
- The intervention stopped her from dissolving into nothing.
Other Ways to Say:
- Melting away completely
- Evaporating from existence
21. Silencing the Voice
Meaning: Ending one’s life to stop internal suffering or mental anguish
In a Sentence:
- The constant negative thoughts made her want to silence the voice forever.
- Medication and therapy helped him silence the voice without harming himself.
Other Ways to Say:
- Quieting the inner noise
- Stopping the internal screams
22. Choosing the Permanent Solution
Meaning: Viewing suicide as a definitive answer to temporary problems
In a Sentence:
- In crisis, he couldn’t see past choosing the permanent solution.
- The counselor explained why the permanent solution wasn’t the answer to temporary pain.
Other Ways to Say:
- Taking the irreversible option
- Making the final choice
23. Walking into the Darkness
Meaning: Moving toward death, symbolized as entering perpetual darkness
In a Sentence:
- She felt drawn to walking into the darkness during her deepest depression.
- His friends pulled him back from walking into the darkness.
Other Ways to Say:
- Stepping into the shadows
- Entering the black
24. Releasing the Grip
Meaning: Letting go of life deliberately
In a Sentence:
- He wrote about releasing the grip on a life that had become unbearable.
- The crisis team helped her hold on instead of releasing the grip.
Other Ways to Say:
- Loosening the hold
- Letting go completely
25. Fading Away
Meaning: Gradually disappearing from existence
In a Sentence:
- During her illness, she spoke of wanting to just fade away quietly.
- The poem described fading away like morning mist.
Other Ways to Say:
- Slowly vanishing
- Gradually disappearing
26. Exiting the Stage
Meaning: Leaving life as if departing from a performance
In a Sentence:
- He felt ready to exit the stage after playing his role for so long.
- The playwright’s character contemplated exiting the stage permanently.
Other Ways to Say:
- Leaving the theater
- Departing the performance
27. Snuffing Out the Candle
Meaning: Ending one’s life force, like extinguishing a small flame
In a Sentence:
- She wrote about snuffing out the candle that barely flickered anymore.
- The support group discussed the urge to snuff out the candle during dark times.
Other Ways to Say:
- Blowing out the flame
- Extinguishing the light
28. Dropping the Anchor
Meaning: Ending life by weighing oneself down permanently
In a Sentence:
- The metaphor of dropping the anchor appeared in his final writings.
- Intervention came before he could drop the anchor for good.
Other Ways to Say:
- Sinking with the weight
- Going down permanently
29. Closing the Door Forever
Meaning: Ending life by shutting out all possibilities permanently
In a Sentence:
- He stood on the verge of closing the door forever before reaching out for help.
- The hotline convinced her not to close the door forever.
Other Ways to Say:
- Shutting the entrance permanently
- Sealing the exit
30. Surrendering to the Void
Meaning: Giving up and allowing nothingness to take over
In a Sentence:
- During his crisis, he felt like surrendering to the void was the only peace.
- The therapist helped him fight instead of surrendering to the void.
Other Ways to Say:
- Yielding to emptiness
- Giving in to nothingness
31. Taking the Final Bow
Meaning: Ending life as if concluding a performance with a final gesture
In a Sentence:
- The actor in the novel considered taking the final bow offstage.
- Before taking the final bow, she found reasons to continue.
Other Ways to Say:
- Making the last curtain call
- Giving the ultimate farewell
32. Falling into the Abyss
Meaning: Descending into death, viewed as an endless void
In a Sentence:
- He described depression as standing at the edge of falling into the abyss.
- The safety plan prevented her from falling into the abyss.
Other Ways to Say:
- Plunging into the void
- Dropping into emptiness
33. Switching Off the Light
Meaning: Ending consciousness and life permanently
In a Sentence:
- In his journal, he wrote about wanting to switch off the light for good.
- The crisis counselor recognized the metaphor of switching off the light.
Other Ways to Say:
- Turning out the lamp
- Dimming the brightness forever
34. Breaking the Glass
Meaning: Shattering one’s existence irreparably
In a Sentence:
- She felt like breaking the glass would release her from reflection and existence.
- Therapy helped him see alternatives to breaking the glass.
Other Ways to Say:
- Shattering the mirror
- Smashing through completely
35. Crossing the River
Meaning: Passing from life to death, like crossing a waterway boundary
In a Sentence:
- Ancient myths spoke of crossing the river to the underworld, and he felt drawn to that crossing.
- The intervention stopped him from crossing the river too soon.
Other Ways to Say:
- Traversing the water
- Passing the boundary stream
36. Letting Go of the Rope
Meaning: Releasing one’s hold on life
In a Sentence:
- During the worst moments, she imagined letting go of the rope entirely.
- His support network helped him grip the rope instead of letting go.
Other Ways to Say:
- Releasing the lifeline
- Dropping the cord
37. Entering the Long Sleep
Meaning: Dying as a form of eternal rest
In a Sentence:
- The exhausted patient spoke of wanting to enter the long sleep.
- Medical intervention and therapy prevented him from entering the long sleep prematurely.
Other Ways to Say:
- Beginning eternal rest
- Starting the endless slumber
38. Blowing Out the Flame
Meaning: Extinguishing one’s life force deliberately
In a Sentence:
- She described her will to live as a flickering flame she wanted to blow out.
- The crisis team helped protect and strengthen the flame instead of blowing it out.
Other Ways to Say:
- Extinguishing the fire
- Putting out the spark
39. Stepping Through the Door
Meaning: Passing from life to death by crossing a threshold
In a Sentence:
- He stood before the metaphorical door, deciding whether to step through.
- Intervention came before she stepped through the door permanently.
Other Ways to Say:
- Crossing the threshold
- Passing through the gateway
40. Erasing the Slate
Meaning: Ending one’s existence as if wiping away everything
In a Sentence:
- In his despair, he wanted to erase the slate and start over in nothingness.
- Therapy showed him ways to begin again without erasing the slate completely.
Other Ways to Say:
- Wiping the board clean
- Clearing everything permanently
41. Cutting the String
Meaning: Severing the connection to life
In a Sentence:
- She felt like a puppet wanting to cut the string and fall.
- The psychiatrist helped her see she controlled the strings, not the other way around.
Other Ways to Say:
- Breaking the tether
- Severing the line
42. Answering the Call
Meaning: Responding to suicidal thoughts or death’s invitation
In a Sentence:
- During his illness, he spoke of hearing and wanting to answer the call.
- The crisis line helped him resist answering the call.
Other Ways to Say:
- Heeding the summons
- Responding to the invitation
43. Diving into the Deep
Meaning: Plunging into death, symbolized as deep water
In a Sentence:
- The poetry described diving into the deep as a release from surface struggles.
- Before diving into the deep, he reached out and found support.
Other Ways to Say:
- Plunging into the depths
- Submerging completely
44. Pushing the Button
Meaning: Taking the decisive action to end life
In a Sentence:
- In his crisis, he felt one moment away from pushing the button.
- Intervention stopped her from pushing the button on her life.
Other Ways to Say:
- Pressing the final switch
- Activating the end
45. Riding into the Sunset
Meaning: Ending life viewed as a peaceful departure
In a Sentence:
- He romanticized riding into the sunset as his final act.
- The therapist deconstructed the myth of riding into the sunset permanently.
Other Ways to Say:
- Departing toward evening
- Leaving with the dusk
46. Melting Away
Meaning: Gradually ceasing to exist
In a Sentence:
- She described wanting to melt away like snow in spring.
- The support group addressed feelings of wanting to melt away.
Other Ways to Say:
- Dissolving gradually
- Fading to nothing
47. Going Over the Edge
Meaning: Crossing the boundary from life to death
In a Sentence:
- Standing at the metaphorical cliff, he contemplated going over the edge.
- The safety plan prevented him from going over the edge.
Other Ways to Say:
- Crossing the boundary
- Stepping beyond the limit
48. Folding the Hand
Meaning: Giving up on life, like quitting a card game
In a Sentence:
- After consecutive losses, he felt like folding the hand permanently.
- The counselor convinced him to play another round instead of folding the hand.
Other Ways to Say:
- Quitting the game
- Withdrawing from play
49. Departing the Platform
Meaning: Leaving life as if exiting a station permanently
In a Sentence:
- The train station metaphor recurred in his thoughts about departing the platform.
- Before departing the platform, she called a helpline and found hope.
Other Ways to Say:
- Leaving the station
- Exiting the terminal
50. Turning Off the Machine
Meaning: Ending life by stopping bodily function, viewed mechanically
In a Sentence:
- He described his body as a machine he wanted to turn off.
- Medical care helped him see his body as healing, not a machine to turn off.
Other Ways to Say:
- Shutting down the system
- Powering off completely
51. Slipping Away
Meaning: Quietly and gradually ending one’s life
In a Sentence:
- She fantasized about slipping away without anyone noticing.
- The intervention ensured she didn’t slip away unnoticed.
Other Ways to Say:
- Quietly departing
- Gently fading
52. Burning Out the Star
Meaning: Ending one’s life force like a star that collapses
In a Sentence:
- The poet wrote about burning out the star that once shone brightly.
- Therapy helped him reignite rather than burn out the star.
Other Ways to Say:
- Collapsing the light
- Extinguishing the celestial fire
53. Unlocking the Cage
Meaning: Viewing death as freedom from life’s confinement
In a Sentence:
- He saw suicide as unlocking the cage he’d been trapped in.
- The psychiatrist offered healthier ways to unlock the cage of depression.
Other Ways to Say:
- Opening the prison
- Freeing from confinement
54. Signing Off
Meaning: Ending one’s life as if concluding a broadcast or message
In a Sentence:
- His social media posts hinted at signing off permanently.
- Friends recognized the language about signing off and intervened.
Other Ways to Say:
- Logging off forever
- Ending the transmission
55. Drawing the Final Breath
Meaning: Taking one’s last breath deliberately
In a Sentence:
- She wrote about drawing the final breath and finding peace.
- The emergency team prevented her from drawing the final breath prematurely.
Other Ways to Say:
- Taking the last breath
- Exhaling finally
56. Lowering the Flag
Meaning: Surrendering life, like a flag of defeat
In a Sentence:
- After years of fighting, he considered lowering the flag permanently.
- The veterans support group convinced him not to lower the flag.
Other Ways to Say:
- Surrendering the banner
- Giving up the standard
57. Closing the Circle
Meaning: Ending life as completing a cycle
In a Sentence:
- The philosopher spoke of closing the circle as life’s natural end, but she sought to close it early.
- Intervention helped him see the circle didn’t need closing yet.
Other Ways to Say:
- Completing the loop
- Finishing the cycle
58. Descending the Staircase
Meaning: Moving gradually toward death
In a Sentence:
- His journal entries described descending the staircase into darkness.
- Before descending the staircase fully, he found psychiatric help.
Other Ways to Say:
- Walking down gradually
- Stepping lower continuously
59. Emptying the Cup
Meaning: Draining life completely
In a Sentence:
- She felt like emptying the cup that had held too much bitterness.
- The therapist helped her refill the cup with hope instead of emptying it.
Other Ways to Say:
- Draining the vessel
- Pouring out completely
60. Leaving the Building
Meaning: Departing from life permanently
In a Sentence:
- The metaphor of leaving the building permanently appeared in his notes.
- Crisis workers arrived before he left the building of life.
Other Ways to Say:
- Exiting the structure
- Departing the premises
61. Sailing Away
Meaning: Departing from life like a ship leaving shore
In a Sentence:
- She romanticized sailing away to a place without pain.
- The intervention anchored her before she could sail away permanently.
Other Ways to Say:
- Voyaging beyond
- Departing by sea
62. Blowing Out the Match
Meaning: Extinguishing a small, struggling life force
In a Sentence:
- He described his will as a match he could easily blow out.
- Counseling helped protect and strengthen that match instead of blowing it out.
Other Ways to Say:
- Extinguishing the small flame
- Snuffing the spark
Understanding the Warning Signs
Recognizing metaphorical language about suicide is crucial for intervention. When someone uses these expressions, especially repeatedly or in combination with other warning signs, it may indicate they’re in crisis.
Key warning signs include:
- Direct or indirect references to wanting to die
- Talking about being a burden to others
- Increased social isolation
- Extreme mood swings
- Giving away possessions
- Saying goodbye to people
- Seeking access to lethal means
- Researching methods of suicide
How to Help Someone in Crisis
If someone you know is using suicidal metaphors or showing warning signs:
Immediate steps:
- Take them seriously – Never dismiss or minimize their feelings
- Listen without judgment – Create a safe space for them to talk
- Ask directly – “Are you thinking about suicide?” This doesn’t plant the idea
- Don’t leave them alone – Stay with them until help arrives
- Remove means – If possible, remove access to lethal methods
- Connect them with help – Call emergency services or a crisis line
Crisis Resources:
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (US): 988
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
- International Association for Suicide Prevention: Visit their website for country-specific resources
- Emergency Services: Call 911 (US) or your local emergency number
The Literary and Cultural Context
Metaphors for suicide appear throughout human history in literature, poetry, music, and art. These expressions often reflect cultural attitudes toward death, mental illness, and suffering.
Historical perspectives:
- Ancient literature often romanticized noble suicide
- Religious texts vary in their treatment of self-harm
- Modern psychology emphasizes mental illness and prevention
- Contemporary literature increasingly focuses on hope and recovery
Understanding these metaphors in their cultural context helps us recognize:
- How language shapes our thinking about suicide
- The importance of changing harmful narratives
- The power of hopeful alternatives
- The need for open conversation about mental health
Moving Toward Hope
While metaphors for suicide pervade our language, it’s equally important to develop and use metaphors of hope, recovery, and resilience:
Positive alternatives:
- Turning toward the light instead of walking into darkness
- Holding on through the storm instead of letting go
- Opening new doors instead of closing them forever
- Climbing out instead of falling in
- Rekindling the flame instead of extinguishing it
These counter-metaphors provide language for hope and can help shift thinking from despair to possibility.
Final Thoughts
When someone feels lost, the right words can remind them that help and comfort are still possible. If you notice warning signs, do not wait. Reach out, listen, and show them they are valued and never alone.
0 words)If you or someone close to you is struggling, take action now. Talk to a trusted person or contact a mental health helpline for immediate support. Your care can save a life and create hope where it feels impossible.
