the dust settles

idiom

used to talk about what happens when things become clear or calm after a period of change or confusion
I'll call you as soon as the dust settles from the move.
When the dust settled and the votes were recounted, she had won the election.
You should let the dust settle before you make any big decisions.

Examples of the dust settles in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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And when the dust settles and the inbox stops screaming? Ginni Saraswati, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025 Rudy and Leo spar back and forth about who’s not treated equally under the law — Rudy proposes victims of domestic violence; Leo shoots that down — and when the dust settles? Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 15 Aug. 2025 Such an outcome seems unrealistic right now as tit-for-tat gerrymandering ramps up, but the moment when the dust settles and voters take stock of the damage done may well be the best opportunity to address the scourge of partisan gerrymandering. Benjamin Schneer, Time, 14 Aug. 2025 But once the dust settles, many officials expect state laws and market forces to continue driving the buildout of wind and solar. Alex Brown, Baltimore Sun, 8 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for the dust settles

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Cite this Entry

“The dust settles.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20dust%20settles. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.

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