bite the dust
Meaning
To die, or (informally) to fail, be defeated, or stop working.
Origin
From imagery of a fallen person with their face in the dirt/dust after being struck down; recorded in English for centuries and popularized in modern times by films and songs.
Notes
Informal and sometimes humorous. Can mean literal death or figurative failure/defeat/breakdown. Avoid for sensitive real-death contexts; it may sound flippant.
Examples
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The villain finally bit the dust at the end of the movie.
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My old laptop bit the dust right before the presentation.
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Another startup bit the dust when the funding dried up.
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If we ignore these safety rules, someone could bite the dust.
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Their team bit the dust in the first round of the playoffs.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Fixed phrase with verb inflection: bite/bites/bit/bitten the dust. Usually intransitive. Often used with subjects (person, machine, company). Can take adverbs (finally, almost).
Synonyms
- die
- kick the bucket
- meet one's end
- go under
- fall apart
- go bust
- lose
Antonyms
- survive
- pull through
- succeed
- prevail