- Meaning
- This idiom means to fail, die, or come to an abrupt end, often dramatically or decisively. Originally associated with death in battle, it’s now used to describe any significant defeat or collapse, from projects to personal endeavors, with a slightly humorous or fatalistic tone.
- Origin
- The phrase likely derives from ancient warfare, where a fallen soldier would literally ‘bite’ the dust upon dying. It appears in Homer’s *Iliad* (8th century BCE), translated as warriors falling ‘to bite the dust.’ In English, it was popularized by 19th-century translations of classical texts and American frontier literature. Owen Wister’s 1902 novel *The Virginian* used it, and it gained modern fame through Queen’s 1977 song ‘Another One Bites the Dust.’ Its vivid imagery ensures its use in both literal and metaphorical contexts.
- Variants
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- Bite the dust
- Bites the dust
- Examples
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- Their startup bit the dust after failing to secure funding.
- Another one of his grand plans has bitten the dust—when will he learn?
- The old car finally bit the dust after years of breakdowns.
- Her campaign bit the dust when the scandal broke.
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