What does "Bite the dust" mean?

To fail, die, or be defeated. To be destroyed, defeated, or to die. From falling face-first to the ground.

How do you use "Bite the dust" in a sentence?

Another startup bites the dust. His hopes of promotion bit the dust. One by one, the contestants bit the dust.

Bite the dust

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Casual

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Meaning: To fail, die, or be defeated.

失败、死亡或被击败。

Fracasar, morir o ser derrotado.

失敗する、死ぬ、負ける。

실패하다, 죽다, 패배하다.

To be destroyed, defeated, or to die. From falling face-first to the ground.

被摧毁、被击败或死亡。源自脸朝下倒地。

Ser destruido, derrotado o morir. Viene de caer de bruces al suelo.

破壊される、打ち負かされる、または死ぬこと。地面にうつ伏せに倒れることに由来。

파괴되거나, 패배하거나, 죽다. 얼굴부터 땅에 쓰러지는 것에서 유래한 표현.

Literal meaning: Fall face-down into the dust

Examples

Another startup bites the dust.
又一家初创公司倒闭了
Otra startup muerde el polvo
また一つスタートアップが消えた
또 하나의 스타트업이 사라졌다.
His hopes of promotion bit the dust.
他的升职希望破灭了
Sus esperanzas de ascenso se fueron al garete
彼の昇進の望みは消えた
그의 승진 희망은 물거품이 되었다.
One by one, the contestants bit the dust.
参赛者一个接一个被淘汰
Uno a uno, los concursantes fueron cayendo
出場者は次々と敗退していった
참가자들이 하나둘씩 탈락해 갔다.

Pronunciation

/baɪt ðə dʌst/

Usage Guide

Context: defeat, failure, death

Tone: dramatic, sometimes humorous

✓ Do Say

Another one bites the dust.
又一个倒下了
Otro que muerde el polvo
また一人やられた
또 하나 나가떨어졌어
His plans bit the dust.
他的计划泡汤了
Sus planes se fueron al traste
彼の計画はおじゃんになった
그의 계획은 물거품이 됐어
Bit the dust.
完蛋了
Mordio el polvo
ダメになった
끝장났어

✗ Don't Say

Failed
Failed（太普通）
Failed（menos expresivo）
Failed（平凡すぎる）
Failed (너무 평범함)
Was defeated
Was defeated（太正式）
Was defeated（demasiado formal）
Was defeated（堅すぎる）
Was defeated (너무 딱딱함)

Common Mistakes

Famous from Queen song
Ancient origin, still very current

Origin & History

From falling in battle, face-first into dust.

Etymology: Ancient, found in Homer

First recorded: Ancient (Homer's Iliad)

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient to present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Queen 'Another One Bites the Dust'; Western films

Regional notes: Universal across English-speaking world.

Variations

Bite the dustBit the dustAnother one bites the dust