The Walking Dead
Definition
A post-apocalyptic comic book series created by Robert Kirkman in 2003, later adapted into a long-running AMC television series (2010–2022) and various spin-offs, centering on survivors navigating a zombie apocalypse.
Informally, a metaphor for zombies or the undead shambling about, popularized by the franchise; also used to describe comatose coworkers or sleep-deprived commuters who move like they've checked out of life.
Examples
After pulling an all-nighter coding, Dave shuffled into the kitchen like one of The Walking Dead, coffee in hand but soul long gone.
My inbox on Monday mornings? Pure The Walking Dead territory – endless groans from overdue tasks rising from the grave.
She survived the family holiday dinner unscathed, unlike the cast of The Walking Dead facing off against walkers.
Traffic in LA rush hour turns commuters into The Walking Dead: aimless, groaning, and occasionally biting.