sign one's death warrant

sign one's death warrant (third-person singular simple present signs one's death warrant, present participle signing one's death warrant, simple past and past participle signed one's death warrant)

1. To make a decision that dooms one to certain death.
   • 1921, Míchael Collins, after signing the Anglo-Irish Treaty

     Think — what have I got for Ireland? Something which she has wanted these past seven hundred years. Will anyone be satisfied at the bargain? Will anyone? I tell you this; early this morning I signed my death warrant. I thought at the time how odd, how ridiculous — a bullet may just as well have done the job five years ago.