dust
1. noun, informal A disturbance or commotion. The supervisor is going to kick up a dust if he finds out about this. There's a lot of police activity around here lately. We should wait for the dust to settle before we start dealing again. The dust has finally settled from all that drama, so please don't bring it up tonight!
2. noun, slang Any powdered illicit drug, especially cocaine. Here's $50. See if you can score us some dust for the party tonight. No dust for me, man. I just got out of rehab. There are people snorting dust in the bathroom! I didn't know it was that kind of party!
3. verb, slang To murder (someone). He started talking smack, so I pulled out my Glock and dusted the fool. I want you to dust that punk before he can go to the police with what he knows about our organization. Gang members dusted that poor girl just because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
4. verb, slang To defeat (someone) handily or thoroughly in a competition, especially a race. The high school senior dusted the rest of the competition in today's 400m dash. Scott was the fastest skater by far—he dusted all of his opponents. I never expected the mayoral election to be a landslide, but the incumbent totally dusted her challenger.
dust off
1. To remove dust and dirt from someone or something by patting or wiping. A noun or pronoun can be used between "dust" and "off." After sliding into third base, I got up and dusted myself off. Here, take this rag and dust off the TV stand before Grandma gets here. Don't bring those old books down from the attic until you've thoroughly dusted them off.
2. To ready something (often by retrieving it from storage) so that it can be used again. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "dust" and "off." Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, it's time to dust off the Christmas decorations! Move-in day is next week, so you better dust off everything you need to bring back to your dorm room. After three long years at home, I'm excited to finally dust off my suitcase and go on a tropical vacation.
3. slang In baseball, to throw a pitch at or very close to the body of the batter. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "dust" and "off." Don't be afraid to dust off the batter a bit if he's crowding the plate. You were supposed to dust the guy off the plate, not hit him! Ugh, now the bases are loaded. Collins is known to crowd the plate, so dust him off with something inside.
4. To ready oneself for something that one used to do, often after something unpleasant has happened. In this usage, a reflexive pronoun is used between "dust" and "off." I know you struggled last season, but it's time to dust yourself off and start fresh this season. No one likes rejection, but it's just part of the business. You need to dust yourself off and start going to auditions again. A: "Scott was devastated to lose his job." B: "Yeah, but come on—he has to dust himself off and get on with his life eventually."
5. To punch or beat someone. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "dust" and "off." I ran to get a teacher when I heard the school bully threaten to dust off another kid in our class. The detective dusted the suspect off a bit when he refused to admit to the crime. Would you knock it off? That dude's gonna dust you off if you keep flirting with his girlfriend!
6. To kill or defeat someone. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "dust" and "off." No one expected the highest-seeded team to be dusted off so early in the playoffs. You need to dust that guy off before he can go to the police and tell him all about our operation. Mona's the fastest girl in our class, so I'm not surprised she dusted off everyone else in the race.
dust out
To remove the dust from a thing or space. A noun or pronoun can be used between "dust" and "out." Hey, dust out that vase and bring it up here so we can put the bouquet in it. If you haven't dusted out the TV stand, get the feather duster and do it now. You might as well dust out the toy box before you dump everything back in there.
dust up
1. To remove dust and dirt from someone or something by patting, brushing, or wiping. A noun or pronoun can be used between "dust" and "up." After sliding into third base, I got up and dusted myself up. Here, take this rag and dust up the TV stand before Grandma gets here. Don't bring those old books down from the attic until you've thoroughly dusted them up.
2. To begin to use something that has been dormant or unused for a long time, as if it were covered in dust. A noun or pronoun can be used between "dust" and "up." I decided to dust up the novel I started writing in college and finally try to finish it. Do you think Grandpa will ever dust up his paintings again? I bet it would improve his mood. My surgery came with a long recovery, but now I can finally dust up my sneakers and get running again!
3. To cover something with dust or a dust-like substance. A noun or pronoun can be used between "dust" and "up." I like to finish the cake by dusting it up with powdered sugar. Have you dusted the Irish potatoes up with cinnamon yet? No, don't taste it until I dust it up with coconut flakes!
4. To pass someone very quickly or handily, as on a trail or in a race. A noun or pronoun can be used between "dust" and "up." I thought I would be a faster climber, but Jack completely dusted me up to the summit. The younger runner dusted up all of his competitors. Mona's the fastest girl in our class, so I'm not surprised she dusted up everyone else in the race.
5. To make someone or oneself ready to continue trying to do something or begin something again, especially after something unpleasant or demoralizing has happened. A noun or pronoun is used between "dust" and "up" I know you struggled last season, but it's time to dust yourself up and start fresh this season. I really struggled after losing my job, but my wife helped dust me up and start looking for a new career. No one likes rejection, but it's just part of the business. You need to dust yourself up and start going to auditions again.
6. To punch or beat someone. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "dust" and "up." I ran to get a teacher when I heard the school bully threaten to dust up another kid in our class. The detective dusted the suspect up a bit when he refused to admit to the crime. Would you knock it off? That dude's gonna dust you up if you keep flirting with his girlfriend!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
dust off
1. Restore to use. For example, I've dusted off last year's menu for the party. This usage alludes to cleaning and thereby renewing some object. [Mid-1900s]
2. Pitch a baseball dangerously close to the batter's head, as in I'm sure he dusted him off on purpose. [Slang; 1920s]
3. Finish off, kill; also, easily defeat. For example, They vowed to dust off the old man, or We'll dust off this team in no time. [Slang; c. 1940]
4. Thrash, beat up, as in If he didn't hand over his wallet, they threatened to dust him off. [Slang; 1920s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.