Meaning of mortal coil | Babel Free

Definitions

1. The chaos and confusion of life.
2. The physical body of a man (containing the spirit inside).

Examples

“[…] [A black swallowtail] does not—as a true insect does—change⟳ from worm to grub, and from grub to his mature form⟳, but simply “shuffles off his mortal coil,”—skin, hairs, and leggings all complete⟳, now and then, […] . He then leaves his shuffled-off “mortal coil” hanging upon a fragment of dirty cobweb, as before described.”

“Shakespeare represents the human body under various figures: a coil: a case: a frame: a machine: a vesture: a heft: a motion or puppet: &c. It has been contended that in Hamlet’s speech, the ‘mortal coil’ is the coil, i.e. trouble⟳ of turmoil, incident to man’s mortal state: but the analogies are too strong in favor of the ‘mortal coil’ being what Fletcher calls the ‘case of flesh’ (Bonduca, iv. 1).”

“His soul may have⟳ found rest⟳, but “his mortal coil” certainly did not. Unfortunately […] the village “astrologer” informed them that […] they must dig⟳ him up, give⟳ the customary feast in his honor and have⟳ another burial site chosen.”

“She escaped her mortal coil and moved out, looking back at herself as she stood motionless, clutching the stone that had become⟳ the link⟳ between her body and her spirit.”

CEFR level