Definition

Noun: 1. The end of time; a very distant or indefinite future point. Used to emphasize that something will continue for an extremely long time or until an unspecified, far-off conclusion. 2. The afterlife; the next world; the state of being after death. Often used in the context of being killed or sent to this state.

Usage Examples

• Referring to a distant future:
  • You can argue till kingdom come, but I won't change my mind.
  • She said she would love him till kingdom come.
• Referring to death or the afterlife:
  • The explosion was so powerful it nearly sent them to kingdom come.
  • If you're not careful, you'll blow us all to kingdom come!

Advanced Usage

• "Till kingdom come": This is a fixed adverbial phrase meaning "forever" or "for an extremely long time." It is used for hyperbolic emphasis.
  • He promised to wait for her till kingdom come.
• "To kingdom come": This is a fixed adverbial phrase, typically following verbs like or meaning "to death" or "into the afterlife."
  • The faulty wiring could send the whole building to kingdom come.

Variants and Related Words

• Kingdom (n): A country, state, or territory ruled by a king or queen. (e.g., )
• Come (v): To move or travel toward the speaker or toward a specified place.

Synonyms

• For eternity: For all time; forever.
• The hereafter: Life after death.
• The great beyond: A euphemism for the afterlife.

Related Phrases

• "Till the cows come home": For a very long time. (This idiom is similar in meaning to "till kingdom come" when referring to duration.)
• "Meet one's maker": To die. (This idiom is similar in meaning to "go to kingdom come.")

Notes on Meaning

The term "kingdom come" originates from the Christian Lord's Prayer ("Thy kingdom come"), which refers to the future establishment of God's kingdom. In modern, informal English, it has lost most of its religious connotation and is used primarily in the fixed hyperbolic idioms shown above.

Noun

1. the end of time
   • you can wet the bed till kingdom come, for all I care
2. the next world
   • he nearly blew us to kingdom come