An informal idiom meaning:
- 1. To die, especially in combat, competition, or suddenly.
- 2. To fail, break down permanently, be defeated, or come to an end.
Explanation
Origin
- Evokes the image of someone falling face-first into the dirt (dust) upon dying or being defeated.
- Similar imagery appears in ancient literature (e.g., Homer's Iliad).
- Popularized in English through translations, Western novels/films depicting gunfights, and notably the 1980 Queen song Another One Bites the Dust.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal (for Failure/Breakdown):
- Go belly up
- Tank / Bomb
- Crash and burn
- Kaput (from German)
- Conk out / Give out (for machines)
- Fizzle out
Slang/Informal (for Death):
- See Kick the bucket alternatives.
Milder/Formal (for Failure/Breakdown):
- Fail / Malfunction / Cease to function
- Go out of business / Become defunct / Cease operations
- Be unsuccessful / Be defeated
Milder/Formal (for Death):
- Die / Pass away / Perish / Succumb
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal.
- Acceptable for discussing failures, breakdowns of objects, historical or fictional deaths, or competitive losses.
- Generally insensitive and inappropriate for discussing recent, tragic, or personal deaths.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- The main ambiguity is whether it refers to death or failure/breakdown. Context is crucial for interpretation.
- Using it insensitively for a real person's death can cause significant offense.
Examples
- (Die) Many soldiers bit the dust in that battle.
- (Break down) My vacuum cleaner finally bit the dust.
- (Fail) Their new restaurant bit the dust after only six months.
- (Competition) He was leading the race until the final lap, then he bit the dust. (Figurative for failing/losing, not dying)
Dialogue
Scenario 1 (Breakdown):
A: Argh, my phone just died and won't turn back on. I think it finally bit the dust.
B: Oh no! Is it still under warranty?
Scenario 2 (Failure):
A: Did you hear about that new tech startup? They bit the dust already.
B: Really? That was fast. Seemed like a good idea.
Social Media Examples
- Post: My favourite coffee mug slipped from my hand and bit the dust. Mourning the loss. 😠#clumsy #sad
- Tweet: Another one of my ambitious New Year's resolutions bites the dust by February. Oh well! 😂 #ResolutionFail #Relatable
- Tech News Headline: Streaming Service Bites the Dust Amidst Fierce Competition
Response Patterns
- Depends on the context (death vs. failure) and the subject.
- Death: Somber acknowledgement (How sad), satisfaction (if an enemy), depends on sensitivity.
- Failure/Breakdown: Sympathy (Oh no! That's too bad), resignation (Well, it was bound to happen), sometimes frustration (Not again!).
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- Asking for details: What happened? / How did it break? / Why did the business fail?
- Expressing appropriate emotion (sympathy, regret, satisfaction).
- Discussing consequences (e.g., needing a replacement, impact of failure).
Conversation Starter
- No. Describes an event or outcome.
Intonation
- Can be matter-of-fact, slightly dramatic, or resigned depending on context.
- Stress falls on bite and dust. Another one bites the dust.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood across generations, partly due to the popular Queen song.
Regional Variations
- Common and understood in most major English-speaking regions.