do-or-die vs desperate

do-or-die is not a noun while desperate is a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
do-or-die	No	Yes	No	No
desperate	Yes	Yes	No	No

As adjectives, do-or-die and desperate are synonyms defined as:

do-or-die (noun)	desperate (noun)
	a person who is frightened and in need of help

do-or-die (adjective)	desperate (adjective)
desperately determined	showing extreme courage; especially of actions courageously undertaken in desperation as a last resort
	fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless
	arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
	showing extreme urgency or intensity especially because of great need or desire
	desperately determined
	(of persons) dangerously reckless or violent as from urgency or despair