死し線せん

noun

borderline between life and death; verge of death

Used for situations where someone is at the critical point between life and death, often in medical, accident, or combat contexts.

• 彼かれは交こう通つう事じ故こで死し線せんをさまよった。

  He hovered between life and death after the traffic accident.

• 医い師したちは死し線せんを越こえた患かん者じゃを救すくおうと懸けん命めいだった。

  The doctors worked desperately to save the patient who had crossed the verge of death.

noun

deadline (prison boundary)

Historical term for a boundary around a prison that inmates were forbidden to cross, often under penalty of being shot. Not used in modern contexts; the modern 'deadline' is 締め切り.

• 昔むかしの刑けい務む所しょでは、死し線せんを越こえた囚しゅう人じんは射しゃ殺さつされることもあった。

  In old prisons, inmates who crossed the deadline could be shot dead.