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to eat one's dust
01
to experience a massive defeat by someone in any competitive situation
![to [eat] {one's} dust definition and meaning](https://cdn.langeek.co/photo/39611/original/lose?type=jpeg "to [eat] {one's} dust definition and meaning")
Disapproving
Idiom
InformalWhat is the origin of the idiom "eat one's dust" and when to use it?
The idiom "eat one's dust" is believed to have originated from a literal meaning, where a person riding a horse or driving a vehicle would kick up a cloud of dust as they moved quickly. The person behind them would then be forced to eat the dust, which would make it difficult for them to see and breathe. Over time, the phrase evolved to become a metaphor for being left behind or defeated by someone who is moving at a faster pace.
Example
He's such a fast runner that his competitors are left eating his dust in every race.
The company is growing so quickly that its competitors are eating its dust in the market.
She has been working hard and has left her colleagues eating her dust in terms of productivity.
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