dawn of the dead
Definition
A 1978 cult classic zombie apocalypse horror film directed by George A. Romero, sequel to 'Night of the Living Dead', depicting survivors barricaded in a shopping mall amid a undead uprising.
Figuratively, the onset or beginning of a zombie outbreak or any massively disruptive event resembling the rise of the undead.
Examples
After pulling an all-nighter coding, I hit the dawn of the dead phase where coffee fails and existential dread kicks in.
The Black Friday sale turned into the dawn of the dead, with shoppers trampling each other for discounted TVs.
Waking up to my alarm at 5 AM felt like the dawn of the dead—slow, groaning, and utterly unstoppable.
In the boardroom, the boss's new policy announcement sparked the dawn of the dead among the employees' morale.