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Glite Dictionary
after the dust settles

after the dust settles

4.1
A time when things become calm and clear after a big change
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : cuando se calman las cosas
  • Let's wait until after the dust settles to assess the impact of the new policy.

Examples

  • Maybe after the dust settles.

    After Last Season (2009)

  • Things should return to normal after the dust settles from the chaotic election results.

  • We can make better decisions after the dust settles following the recent changes in management.

Surface Forms

after the dust settles main

Morphology

after + the + dust + settle

The phrase evokes the literal image of dust coming to rest: 'dust' + 'settles' straightforwardly maps onto a situation calming down or becoming clear after turbulence. This metaphor is transparent and commonly used cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

The phrase after the dust settles comes from the picture of dust thrown up after a crash, storm, or big change. When the dust settles, you can see clearly. So it means 'when a situation becomes clear or calm after a period of confusion or activity'.