# beat the dust

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/beat-the-dust
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To perform curvets too precipitately or too low.

## Examples

- The horse began to beat the dust during the show.
- The rider struggled to control the horse as it started to beat the dust in the arena.
- The stallion's tendency to beat the dust rather than execute a clean, elevated movement disappointed the judges during the dressage competition.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.