dry-as-dust

[ drahy-uhz-duhst ]

/ ˈdraɪ əzˈdʌst /

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adjective

dull and boring: a dry-as-dust biography.

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Origin of dry-as-dust

1870–75; after Dr. Dryasdust, a fictitious pedant satirized in the prefaces of Sir Walter Scott's novels

Estee Lauder has not crumbled to dust because the perfect brown face of Joan Smalls represents it.
One Vogue Cover Doesn’t Solve Fashion’s Big Race Problem|Danielle Belton|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
My understanding was that according to most Christian beliefs, being trans or gay was a sin, cut and dry.
Dear Leelah, We Will Fight On For You: A Letter to a Dead Trans Teen|Parker Molloy|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Fold the parchment paper with the dry ingredients in half and pour into the stand mixer.
Make ‘The Chew’s’ Carla Hall’s Sticky Toffee Pudding|Carla Hall|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Allow beans to cool completely then remove to a paper towel-lined plate to dry.
Make Carla Hall’s Crispy Shallot Green Bean Casserole|Carla Hall|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Even when he opens up, the sentences are wooden, the scenes sucked dry of emotion.
The Story of the World’s Greatest Cricket Player|William O’Connor|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The tears came so fast to Mrs. Pontellier's eyes that the damp sleeve of her peignoir no longer served to dry them.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
But Polavieja started his campaign with the immense advantage of having the whole of the dry season before him.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
Their method of curing the leaves was to air-dry them and then packing them until wanted for use.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
The smoke from her kitchen fire rose white as she put in dry sumac to give it a start.
The Bondboy|George W. (George Washington) Ogden
In the aperture of the window, amid piles of paper, stood a rickety old table, covered with dust.
Hilda Lessways|Arnold Bennett

dry as dust

Dull, boring, as in This text is dry as dust; it's putting me to sleep. [c. 1500]