Where does the term "another one bites the dust" come from?

Answer 1

After a gunfight, the loser bites the dust as he falls down.

Answer 2

It is usually used as a phrase suggesting a person has died and fallen face down. The "dust" is the dirt, and they are either literally or figuratively eating it. If you've ever fallen down at the beach with a slightly open mouth you'd know how easy it is to accidently take a chomp out of the sand.

It can also be used as a figurative phrase. If you eliminate someone from a tennis tournament, someone might say "Another one bites the dust", meaning that they've dropped out of the front line and can no longer compete, even though they didn't literally fall flat on their face.

Answer 3

In history we were talking about the Oregon Trail and if you woke up later than others than you'd have to be one of the wagons in the back. One kid asked, "is that where 'another one bites the dust' comes from?" because dust and dirt would be flying out from the other wagons.

Just a theory.

Answer 4

I'm not sure how accurate this source is, but it gives an interesting background. It claims the phrase "lick the dust" can be found in the King James version of the Bible in Psalm 72.

It says the earliest citation of "bite the dust" comes from a Scottish author in 1750.
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/65500.html

And, yeah, of course, like noted above, you can't forget the late great Freddy Mercury making it an ultra-famous line. WOO!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMenB9Ywh2Q

Answer 5

I was always told that it was a term used at early 20th Century bare hand boxing tournaments. These where working class events held in dusty and dirty factories and warehouses. The "Ring" would be a circle marked on the floor in Chalk. Contestants where members of the crowd who paid to enter. The winner of the last fight would always fight the next contender. If he kept on getting knock-outs, the commentator would announce "and another one bites the dust, are there any more takers?" if no one stepped forward into the ring, then that man won stake. (Very much like the film "Fight Club" but with late 19th / early 20th Century clothing!)

Answer 6

Queen

Steve walks warily down the street,
With the brim pulled way down low
Ain't no sound but the sound of his feet,
Machine guns ready to go
Are you ready, Are you ready for this
Are you hanging on the edge of your seat
Out of the doorway the bullets rip
To the sound of the beat
Chorus

Another one bites the dust
Another one bites the dust
And another one gone, and another one gone
Another one bites the dust
Hey, I'm gonna get you too
Another one bites the dust

How do you think I'm going to get along,
Without you, when you're gone
You took me for everything that I had,
And kicked me out on my own

Are you happy, are you satisfied
How long can you stand the heat
Out of the doorway the bullets rip
To the sound of the beat
Chorus


Another one bites the dust
Another one bites the dust
Another one bites the dust
Another one bites the dust
There are plenty of ways you can hurt a man
And bring him to the ground
You can beat him
You can cheat him
You can treat him bad and leave him
When he's down
But I'm ready, yes I'm ready for you
I'm standing on my own two feet
Out of the doorway the bullets rip
Repeating the sound of the bea

Answer 7

if there was ever any use of that saying before 1980 when it was used in Queens hit single -another one bites the dust (The Game) it meant to die. you know like kick the bucket.
the only time Id heard that saying before the song was in an old black and white western when someone said his friend had " bit the dust in a gunfight " meaning.. he lost. he died.
but after the song it could be used to describe someone who lost at a game or sport .or someone that "dropped the ball"
or dishonored himself or team.

Answer 8

Am sure it comes from antiquity when one dies and returns to the dust. As in dust to dust, ashes to ashes. Made famous by Freddie Mercury and Queen in their song - Another one bites the dust.

Answer 9

its from cowboy times, when they had a shoot out the loser ended up face down in the dust, and they used to say 'he bit the dust.'

Answer 10

i don't know but it sounds like it might come from the old west, after someone gets shot and they are face down, just a thought.