English Reference
Idiom idiom

done and dusted


Completed thoroughly and satisfactorily.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

“The project is finally done and dusted.”

CONTEXTUAL

“After working all weekend, we finally got the house painted and everything is done and dusted.”

COMPLEX

“With the final contracts signed and the legal review complete, the complex merger is officially done and dusted.”


first recorded 20th c.

1953, UK, with "dusted" alliterative and expressing "finishing touches". Compare home and hosed.


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    beat the dust

    To perform curvets too precipitately or too low.

  2. 02

    bite the dust

    To die.

  3. 03

    bust the dust

    To clean dust off something, such as with a vacuum cleaner.

  4. 04

    catch dust

    To be rarely used.

  5. 05

    collect dust

    To remain untouched and unused for a long period of time.

  6. 06

    dust mouse

    A dust bunny.

  7. 07

    dust off a batter

    for a pitcher to throw a pitch at or near the batter, typically to frighten the batter or to have him stand farther away from home plate.

  8. 08

    dust settles

    A heated, angry, or confused atmosphere calms down.

Last updated August 10, 2026