dust off
Idioms-
Restore to use. For example, I've dusted off last year's menu for the party . This usage alludes to cleaning and thereby renewing some object. [Mid-1900s]
-
Pitch a baseball dangerously close to the batter's head, as in I'm sure he dusted him off on purpose . [ Slang ; 1920s]
-
Finish off, kill; also, easily defeat. For example, They vowed to dust off the old man , or We'll dust off this team in no time . [ Slang ; c. 1940]
-
Thrash, beat up, as in If he didn't hand over his wallet, they threatened to dust him off . [ Slang ; 1920s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Others used the shutdown to dust off esoteric research projects.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 12, 2025
It might even be time to dust off the BBQ and apply the sunscreen.
From BBC • Apr. 24, 2025
You can also use a pastry brush or a clean, unused paintbrush to dust off the surfaces.
From Salon • Mar. 22, 2025
The pullback inspired some market commentators to dust off an antique market indicator known as the Dow Theory.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2025
I move the magic things aside to dust off the shelf with my hand.
From "American Street" by Ibi Zoboi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
