pay the debt of nature

present singular third person pays the debt of nature · participle present paying the debt of nature · participle past paid the debt of nature · past paid the debt of nature

1. euphemisticTo die.

   The venerable father of the human race had now himself paid the debt of nature.

   1828, Henry Hunter, Sacred biography, or, The history of the patriarchs, volume 1, page 36

   1 more example

   Ten years after he had seen his son married^([sic]), become a church member, and give up his carnal delights, old Deacon Smith paid the debt of nature. His last days he always called his best days.

   1850, T. S. Arthur, “Deacon Smith and his Violin”, in Sketches of Life and Character, Philadelphia: J. W. Bradley, →OCLC, page 76

   Synonyms: pay nature's debt