In this idiom question, choose the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the expression “bite the dust”.

Introduction / Context:
The idiom “bite the dust” is a colourful expression commonly used in spoken English, books and films. It often appears in exam questions because learners may interpret it too literally. The phrase does not refer to eating dust in a physical sense; instead, it has a figurative meaning connected with failure or defeat. This question asks you to choose the option that best matches that figurative sense.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The idiom is “bite the dust”.
• You must pick the most appropriate meaning among four options.
• The options are: eat poorly, suffer a defeat, clean something, attack and defeat somebody.

Concept / Approach:
Historically, “bite the dust” painted a picture of someone falling forward onto the ground in battle, literally putting their face into the dust. Over time, this visual image came to symbolise defeat, failure or even death. In modern usage, it is widely used for businesses, plans, machines or teams that fail. Therefore, the correct option must focus on suffering defeat or failure, not on eating badly, cleaning or attacking others.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Fix the figurative meaning: “bite the dust” means to fail, to be defeated or sometimes to cease to exist. Step 2: Check option a) “eat poorly”. Although “bite” suggests eating, the idiom as a whole is not about food. Step 3: Check option b) “suffer a defeat”. This directly captures the idea of being beaten in a contest or plan. Step 4: Check option c) “clean something”. Dust and cleaning are related literally, but this has nothing to do with losing. Step 5: Check option d) “attack and defeat somebody”. This describes causing someone else to lose, whereas “bite the dust” normally refers to the subject suffering defeat. Step 6: Conclude that option b) is the closest and best explanation.

Verification / Alternative check:
Use an example sentence: “Several small companies have bitten the dust after the new regulation.” Here, it clearly means those companies have failed or gone out of business. Replacing “bitten the dust” with “suffered a defeat” or “failed badly” fits well. Replacing it with “ate poorly”, “cleaned something” or “attacked and defeated somebody” makes no sense in this context. This practical test confirms that “suffer a defeat” is the correct choice in the list.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“Eat poorly” is a misinterpretation based only on the word “bite”, ignoring the idiomatic unit. “Clean something” connects to “dust” literally but does not match the phrase’s actual usage. “Attack and defeat somebody” reverses the direction of defeat: in the idiom, the subject is the loser, not the winner. These distractor options are designed to check whether you understand that idioms must be interpreted as fixed expressions rather than word by word.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes confuse “bite the dust” with other idioms involving dust or food and guess randomly. Another pitfall is to assume that any vivid phrase must have something to do with aggression or violence, so they may be tempted by “attack and defeat somebody”. The safest strategy is to learn common idioms along with at least one example sentence, so that when you see them in a test, their meaning comes back to you immediately in context.

Final Answer:
“Bite the dust” means to suffer a defeat or fail completely.