1 A2 neutral
To remove dust or dirt from a surface, object, or clothing, usually by brushing or wiping.
"He dusted down the old bookcase before moving it into the new house."
separable
dust down
B2 neutral separable transitive
(Chiefly British) To remove dust from someone or something, or to tidy up something that has not been used for a while.
In plain English
To brush or wipe the dust off something or someone, especially to make it ready to use again.
What does "dust down" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To recover composure or pick yourself up after a failure, setback, or difficult experience.
"She dusted herself down after the rejection and started working on her next application."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To dust (clean) something in a downward motion — largely transparent.
Actually means
To brush or wipe the dust off something or someone, especially to make it ready to use again.
Usage tip
More common in British English than American, where 'dust off' tends to be preferred. Often used figuratively to mean reviving or refreshing something old. The reflexive use ('dust yourself down') means to recover composure after a setback.
Words that pair with "dust down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
jacket shelf plans skills outfit yourself
How to conjugate "dust down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
dust down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
dusts down
he/she/it
Past simple
dusted down
yesterday
Past participle
dusted down
have + pp
-ing form
dusting down
continuous
Hear "dust down" in the wild
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