idioms using “dust”

When the dust settles

A calm period after a flurry of activity

“When the dust settles after the government bailouts, we’ll know which banks are going to survive the financial crisis.”

Dust off

Wipe off or refresh something that has been unused

“It’s time to dust off the resume’ and start checking the classified ads for a job.”

Bite the dust

Stop existing

“One by one, the big banks are biting the dust.”

Gather dust

To be unused

“The software package we bought last year is outdated; it’s just on the shelf gathering dust.”

Leave someone in the dust

To move quickly away from

“Our technological advances helped us leave our competitors in the dust.”