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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

dust down en · VERB

Meanings

  1. (alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of dust off.
    alt of dust off
    • Hood explains: "It's never a case of just taking these units and dusting them down. Because they had been in storage, they had not undertaken their time-based overhaul, which had been due. They had also not undertaken their mileage-based overhaul, which was also due for all the sets. That caused a bit of a headache when it came to recommissioning them." 2025 August 6, Richard Wilcock, “Old units... new lease of life”, in RAIL, number 1041, page 31:
    • These preparations are being dusted down and refreshed and will continue to stand their owners in good stead in November. 2019 October, Rail Freight Group, “Consequences of a no deal Brexit”, in Modern Railways, page 20:
  2. (slang) To demean or verbally assault; to dress down.
  3. (slang) To clean (someone) off who has fallen.
    • He was on the ground, so I helped him up, dusted him down and brought him home.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
dusts down Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
dusted down Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
dusted down Tense=Past lexicographic
dusting down Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic