to bite the dust

Examples

• All

• Another company bites the dust thanks to a union.

  Blog text (7)

• Oh, dammit, another great website bites the dust.

  Blog text (24)

• Eventually, we all bite the dust.

  Fiction book (1991)

• Well, another one bites the dust.

  Gretel & Hansel (2020)

• And another one bites the dust.

  Sex and the City (2008)

• Another one bites the dust.

  Faith Like Potatoes (2006)

• Another one bites the dust, brother.

  The Expendables (2010)

• Another show bites the dust because its creator got busy with too many other things.

  Blog text (28)

• Before I bite the dust, there's three things that I want from life: To touch Lou Gehrig's glove, To be in Florida for Spring Training... and to take you with me on both trips.

  Mermaids (1990)

• The old computer finally bit the dust after years of use.

Synonyms

D

to die

vsto bite the dust

498 4.6

To stop working, often suddenly

is slightly more informal and can mean ordinary failure rather than only permanent stop

B

to break down

vsto bite the dust

194 3.2

To stop working because of a problem

is broader and can also mean total end or disappearance beyond mere malfunction

G

to go bad

vsto bite the dust

• US

33 3.5

Stop working and need repair

emphasizes complete cessation or disappearance rather than gradual deterioration

G

to go dead

vsto bite the dust

27 3.9

To stop working or become suddenly silent

can also mean final end or lasting nonexistence rather than only sudden silence

G

to go up in smoke

vsto bite the dust

• Informal

18 5.5

Plans or hopes suddenly fail and disappear for good

is used more generally for tangible things failing, not only plans

G

to give up

vsto bite the dust

14 2.6

To stop working after being used for a long time

covers abrupt or total failure as well as gradual end from use

T

to turn to shit

vsto bite the dust

• Offensive

9 9.9

To go very badly and fail completely

is less vulgar and covers ordinary failure or cessation without crude tone

T

to turn to dust

vsto bite the dust

7 6.6

To be completely ruined and lose all value

can mean simple failure or stopping without implying total destruction

G

to give up the ghost

vsto bite the dust

• Informal

4 8.1

To die or stop working after a long time of problems

is more general and can mean sudden failure as well as long decline

S

to snuff it

vsto bite the dust

• Slang

2 9.9

To stop living and not come back

is more general and neutral, covering mechanical or metaphorical failure as well

R

to return to dust

vsto bite the dust

• Literature

1 8.3

To slowly fall apart and disappear over time

is used more broadly for functional failure, not only gradual decomposition

Y

to yield up the ghost

vsto bite the dust

• Archaic

9.8

To stop working or to die after a long time of getting worse

is the more casual phrase used for failure or collapse in everyday speech

Antonyms

S

to succeed

846 2.0

To reach a goal after trying hard

T

to thrive

241 3.2

To grow well and be successful

How Defeated

to die

∞ 1.0

to bite the dust

• Informal

11 6.8

to collapse

579 3.9

to break down

194 3.2

to fail

898 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology