The phrase "People are dying who have never died before" is one my father often used to quote. It is akin to "He'd be turning in his grave if he was alive". I'm not sure if the attribution above is correct. The former one is in the news again as some rather naughty people are claiming Trump has said it. Always check your facts. Snopes is a good place. As I should have guessed the Sam Godlwyn quote is incorrect.
The earliest instance of this comical expression was apparently printed in an 1879 novel titled “The Honourable Ella: A Tale of Foxshire” by William Ulick O’Connor Cuffe, 4th Earl of Desart.
“My dear Harry, you don’t understand the rudiments of political economy. If Cobden were alive to hear all the twaddle of the free-traders now he would turn in his grave - at least, I mean he’d be confoundedly disgusted.
The author Cuffe highlighted the witticism by allowing his character to recognise that the figurative language was incongruous.
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