The grim reaper (figure of death) can represent:
- Fear of death, or awareness of your mortality at the moment
- Something or someone in real life trying to take something from you (time, attention, energy, focus, or anything physical, emotional, or mental) that you're not prepared to give
- An ending or a change in something—such as a phase, project, or relationship
- You feeling a sense of doom or a fear of impending failure