From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englisha fate worse than deatha fate worse than deathHARM/BE BAD FORsomething terrible that might happen to you – often used humorously He had rescued an innocent girl from a fate worse than death. → fate
Examples from the Corpus
a fate worse than death• After all, she didn't know him, and a fate worse than death might just be awaiting her.• I knew that Grandma's visit would be a fate worse than death.• There are various Pelagias who are known as penitent harlots or virgin martyrs who died to escape a fate worse than death.• It certainly wasn't because he was trying to save her from a Fate Worse than Death.• We've even growled at the horse, and threatened it with a fate worse than death, but to no avail! 