die in (one's) boots
To fight back, rather than passively accept something. I know that protesting seems fruitless, but we can't just give up on this cause—we have to die in our boots.
die in one's boots
and die with one's boots onFig. to go down fighting; to die in some fashion other than in bed; to die fighting. (Popularized by western movies. Heroes and villains of these movies said they preferred death in a gunfight to showing cowardice or giving up.) I won't let him get me. I'll die in my boots. a gunfight to showing cowardice or giving up.) I won't let him get me. I'll die in my boots.