a matter of life and/or deathIMPORTANTa situation that is extremely serious or important, especially one in which someone could die 关乎生死的问题 The delay in the arrival of the ambulance could be a matter of life and death. 救护车服务的质量是关乎生死的问题。
Can’t it wait? It’s hardly a matter of life or death, is it? 就不能等等吗？这又不是生死攸关的事，对吧？
→ a matter of life and/or death at matter1(9)