Dust is more than just tiny particles you find around the house—it’s also a star in the world of words! In this post, we’ll explore some common English idioms that feature the word “dust.” These phrases add fun and color to our language, and even kids can understand how they’re used in everyday conversation.
Dust Idioms
Here are 20 dust idioms in English.
1. Bite the dust
Meaning: To fail or fall down.
Example: He finally bit the dust in the race.
2. Dust off
Meaning: To use something after a long time.
Example: Let’s dust off our old board games.
3. Make the dust fly
Meaning: To cause a commotion.
Example: They really made the dust fly at the meeting.
4. Shake the dust off
Meaning: To leave a place definitively.
Example: She shook the dust off her hometown.
5. Throw dust in one’s eyes
Meaning: To deceive or mislead.
Example: He threw dust in my eyes with his lies.
6. Dust-up
Meaning: A brief and minor argument.
Example: There was a small dust-up at work today.
7. Dust settles
Meaning: Things calm down after a disturbance.
Example: Wait until the dust settles to decide.
8. Kick up dust
Meaning: To create a disturbance or fuss.
Example: He loves to kick up dust during debates.
9. Dust bunny
Meaning: Clumps of dust and lint.
Example: I found a dust bunny under the bed.
10. Angel dust
Meaning: Slang for the drug PCP.
Example: Angel dust is dangerous and illegal.
11. Dust one’s hands
Meaning: To finish something completely.
Example: He dusted his hands of that project.
12. Leave in the dust
Meaning: To outperform or surpass.
Example: She left her competitors in the dust.
13. Dust storm
Meaning: A severe windstorm carrying dust.
Example: A dust storm hit the town yesterday.
14. Dust sheet
Meaning: A cloth used to cover furniture.
Example: We put a dust sheet over the sofa.
15. Gather dust
Meaning: Remain unused for a long time.
Example: My guitar is just gathering dust.
16. Dry as dust
Meaning: Extremely boring or dull.
Example: The lecture was dry as dust.
17. Down to the dust
Meaning: Reduced to nothing.
Example: His empire was brought down to the dust.
18. Dust one’s broom
Meaning: To prepare to leave, make a change.
Example: He’s dusting his broom for a new job.
19. Dust to dust
Meaning: Refers to the burial process.
Example: From dust to dust we all return.
20. Golden dust
Meaning: Something very valuable.
Example: This rare spice is like golden dust.
