turn to dust
Become dry particles
To turn to dust is to disintegrate completely, becoming powder or nothing.
The phrase evokes physical decay—bodies decomposing, ancient objects crumbling—but extends to anything that vanishes or proves worthless: All his careful plans turned to dust.
Often carries a sense of mortality or impermanence: Empires turn to dust.
- decomposeBreak into simpler parts
- disintegrateBreak into fragments
- fall apartBreak into pieces
- perishCease to exist
- decayGradual organic breakdown
crumble · demise · rot · wither · vanish · ephemerality · oblivion · ashes · entropy · memento mori · erosion · erode · wear away · weathering · chaff · die out · impermanence · pulverization
turn to dustsolidify
Make or become hard
harden · coalesce · cohere · crystallize · congeal
turn to dustendure
Suffer through without yielding
stand the test of time · persist · survive · remain · withstand
turn to dustcome into being
Begin to exist
be born · emerge · arise · take form · come to life
turn, return, dust, dusty, turning, turned, dusting, turns, duster