The phrase "pushes up daisies" is a euphemism for being dead and buried. The spelling of this phrase can be broken down using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). "Pushes" is spelled /ˈpʊʃɪz/, with the "sh" sound represented by the phoneme /ʃ/. "Up" is spelled /ʌp/ and "daisies" is spelled /ˈdeɪziz/, with the "z" sound represented by the phoneme /z/. This phrase shows how English spelling and pronunciation can often be confusing for learners.
The phrase "pushes up daisies" is an idiomatic expression commonly used to describe the state of someone being deceased or dead. It is a figurative expression that emphasizes the idea of a person lying in a grave or burial plot, with flowers growing over their final resting place.
The phrase is a play on the concept of decomposition and the natural cycle of life. When a person dies, their body is buried underground, and eventually, nature takes its course, leading to the growth of plants such as daisies. Therefore, the phrase "pushes up daisies" symbolizes the idea that after death, a person's body decomposes and becomes a part of the earth, contributing to the growth of vegetation.
Moreover, this expression is often used in a lighthearted or humorous manner, as a euphemism for death, providing a less direct or solemn way of referring to someone's passing. It can be employed to avoid a more blunt or upsetting description of someone's demise, often used as gallows humor or in informal conversations.
Overall, "pushes up daisies" is an idiomatic phrase that captures the idea of a person being deceased and buried, with daisies growing over their grave, representing the natural cycle of life and death.