death house

• Bâtiment ou partie d'une prison où l'on garde les condamnés en attente d'exécution ; également employé au sens figuré pour désigner un lieu ou une situation semblant voués à l'échec ou oppressants.

A prison or section of a prison where inmates are held while awaiting execution; also used figuratively to describe a place or situation that feels doomed or oppressive.

1. Prison execution facilityC1formal

   A section of a prison where executions are carried out, or where prisoners awaiting execution are held.

   quartier des condamnés à mort

   • The condemned man was moved to the death house.
   • Reporters are not allowed inside the death house.
   • The state's death house has been inactive for years.

2. Dangerous or doomed placeC2informalamerican

   A place or situation that is extremely dangerous or likely to lead to death or failure.

   maison de la mort

   • That abandoned mine is a death house; no one should go in there.
   • The old factory was considered a death house due to toxic fumes.
   • Living in that war zone felt like being in a death house.