The idiom "sleep with the fishes" means to be killed or murdered and then disposed of in a body of water, usually the ocean. It is a slang term that is often used in movies and TV shows to refer to a character's death.
The phrase originated from the practice of Mafia members disposing of their enemies by tying them to weights and throwing them into the ocean. The fishes would then consume the body, leaving no evidence behind.
You can use this idiom when referring to someone who has been killed or disappeared, especially if the circumstances suggest foul play. However, it is important to note that this is a serious and potentially disturbing phrase, so it should be used with caution and sensitivity.
• The mafia boss warned his enemies that if they crossed him, they would be sleeping with the fishes.
• The detective found out that the victim's body had been thrown in the river and was sleeping with the fishes.
• After the shipwreck, the sailors had to sleep with the fishes for a few days until they were rescued.
• I don't like to go fishing because I don't want to sleep with the fishes.
• The mobster was caught by the FBI and was sentenced to sleep with the fishes in the prison's aquarium.
• The environmentalist saw the polluted river and worried that the fish might sleep with the fishes.