When the dust settles

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Meaning

After chaos or fuss calms down, clear again.

Origin

From 19th-century America, tied to dust; fights kicked it up, slang by 1860s for calm. A 1865 'New York Times' uses it for a riot's end.

Variants

  • Dust settles

Usage Examples

  • We'll talk when the dust settles; cool off.
  • When the dust settles, we'll see.
  • Dust settles; then we'll plan.

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