leave someone in the dust

动词 v.

英文释义

动词 v.
  1. To completely overtake a competitor. idiomatic,informal
    — The company has currently no plans to switch away from the old designs, so they could very easily be left in the dust.
  2. To abandon; to leave behind. dated
    — In like manner, our great Henry, was not he forſaken? Left in the duſt of disfauour, and neglected all the time of his childhood?

词形变化

leaves someone in the dust present,singular,third-person leaving someone in the dust participle,present left someone in the dust participle,past left someone in the dust past

词源

Originally (from 17th c.), to leave in the dust meant to abandon or leave something/someone behind - literally or figuratively on the dirt ground.
In modern usage (since late 19th c.), the sense has shifted to one about being overtaken by a competitor, the allusion changing to being left in the airborne dust that has been kicked up by a faster runner, horse, or vehicle.
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