until the dust settles

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "until the dust settles" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate waiting for a situation to become clear or stable after a period of confusion or turmoil. Example: "Let's hold off on making any decisions until the dust settles after the merger announcement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

They want to wait until the dust settles down in Washington".

The New York Times

Until the dust settles, however, "unpredictability is the word of the day," Mr. Rogoff added.

The New York Times

I will continue to mumble my opinions inwardly until the dust settles on Tuesday morning.

The Guardian

Until the dust settles, it may be difficult for Mr Peña to start building coalitions.The left is also in flux.

The Economist

"It's a good long-term buy, but investors are well served by waiting until the dust settles," he said.

The New York Times

But until the dust settles, I'm sitting on the sidelines and letting lights turn themselves on and off".

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

And I don't really expect any sanity in the political discussion until after the dust settles from this fall's congressional elections.

HuffPost

The United States would administer the southern half and the Soviet Union the northern half — a temporary solution until the dust settled.

The Washington Post

If the contingency plans come into play, that would reduce ad revenue for media companies even further as marketers like American Express, Boeing and Northrop Grumman would withdraw to the sidelines until the dust settled.

The New York Times

The first highway connecting Mexico City to the coast in Guerrero opened in the 1920s, but it wasn't until the dust settled from the Mexican Revolution that Acapulco started to grow.

Forbes

Losses to Washington, Washington State and Colorado had people asking, "What happened to Stanford?" — until the dust settled and all three of those teams landed in the top 25.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "until the dust settles" when you want to convey patience and a need to avoid hasty decisions during uncertain times. This phrase is particularly useful in business, politics, and personal finance contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "until the dust settles" when a situation requires immediate action. The phrase implies waiting, which may not always be appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "until the dust settles" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when an action should occur or be delayed. This is evident in the examples provided by Ludwig, where it sets a temporal condition for decisions or actions.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The idiom "until the dust settles" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to advise patience and caution during uncertain times. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is appropriate in various contexts, but particularly shines in news, business, and general discussions. While versatile, it is crucial to avoid using it when immediate action is necessary. Consider alternatives like "until things calm down" or "until the situation stabilizes" for subtle variations in meaning. The phrase functions as an adverbial of time and is generally perceived as neutral in register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

until things calm down

Focuses on reducing chaos and emotional intensity.

until the situation stabilizes

Highlights achieving a stable state after a period of change.

wait for the storm to pass

Uses a meteorological metaphor to suggest enduring hardship until resolution.

until the situation clears up

Emphasizes clarification and understanding after confusion.

until the air clears

Suggests a return to normalcy after tension or conflict.

until things return to normal

Highlights the restoration of a previous, regular state.

in due time

Indicates that something will happen when the time is right, without specifying turmoil.

let the situation play out

Implies allowing events to unfold naturally to see the outcome.

until the picture becomes clearer

Emphasizes waiting for more information to understand a situation better.

give it time

Suggests patience and allowing a process to unfold without intervention.

FAQs

How can I use "until the dust settles" in a sentence?

You can use "until the dust settles" to suggest waiting for clarity after a period of confusion. For example, "We should postpone the investment "until the dust settles" after the market crash."

What are some alternatives to "until the dust settles"?

Alternatives include phrases like "until things calm down", "until the situation stabilizes", or "wait for the storm to pass", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "until the dust settles" formal or informal?

"Until the dust settles" is generally considered a neutral phrase, suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it might be more common in less formal settings.

When is it inappropriate to use "until the dust settles"?

It is inappropriate to use "until the dust settles" if immediate action is required, as the phrase suggests a period of waiting and observation. If you want to convey urgency, consider using a more direct phrase.