Crossword Genius

Chew fine particles or die (4,3,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

bite the dust

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'die' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I cannot tell whether it can be defined by this definition.

'chew fine particles' is the wordplay.
'chew' becomes 'bite'.
'fine' becomes 'the' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'particles' becomes 'dust' (I have seen 'Fine particles' mean 'dust' so perhaps 'particles' could also mean 'dust').
'bite'+'the'+'dust'='BITE THE DUST'

'or' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for bite the dust that I've seen before include "Fall badly" , "Fall down dead" , "getting soiled teeth?" , "Completely fail; die" , "Fall, die" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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