in the dust
11
7.1
- idiom
- Informal
:
dejar atrás
- So the smaller cities, schools, and rinks got left in the dust by the NCHC teams.
- left in the dust
So in theory our thermal siphon should get left in the dust, but it doesn't.
- So in theory our thermal siphon should get left in the dust, but it doesn't.
- And they're like completely leaving us in the dust.
- I wouldn't even call it super academic because we very quickly leave any discussion of like literary study in the dust.
Examples
-
The Apple tablet, though, left the Nexus 7 in the dust in the GPU tests.
Blog text (13) -
The last time they raced, Bret left Ryan in the dust.
Fiction book (1997) -
Left 'em in the dust every time.
-
The reason for this is to help you learn, not leave you in the dust.
Blog text (17) -
I realized that about 30 seconds after you gentlemen left me in the dust.
-
Bret had left him in the dust.
Fiction book (1997) -
Corinne felt left in the dust.
Fiction book (1998) -
On some tasks, like data processing, computers obviously leave even the most skilled human being in the dust.
Academic text (2018) -
Ultimately, Facebook left other social networks like Myspace in the dust.
Academic text (2013) -
When the race started, she quickly left her competitors in the dust.
Synonyms
13
6.0
To go far ahead of someone in speed or success
3
4.4
Being more successful than others in the same group
2
6.7
Get much farther ahead of other people in a race or competition
Do much better than other companies or teams
To beat others easily by being much faster or better
To be left far behind by someone in a race or game
Antonyms
How Far Ahead
Surface Forms
Morphology
in + the + dust
The literal parts 'in' + 'the' + 'dust' describe a spatial relation (being amid dust), and the idiom 'leave someone in the dust' relies on the physical image of dust kicked up by someone ahead to signal that others are left behind. Learners who know the words may infer a general sense of being left behind, but the metaphorical mapping to 'far outpacing others' is not fully predictable without exposure, so it is best judged semi-transparent.
Etymology
In the dust comes from a simple race image: when someone moves very fast on a dirt road, they leave clouds of dust behind. That's why to leave someone in the dust means 'to be far ahead' or 'to leave them behind'.