 |
| Date: | 1700-1800 |
| Origin: | burst |
| |||||||||
bust1
past tense and past participle bust British English also busted especially American English [transitive]
past tense and past participle bust British English also busted especially American English [transitive]1 to break something : 
I bust my watch this morning.Tony busted the door down.
break
informalI bust my watch this morning.Tony busted the door down.2
police
a) if the police bust someone, they charge them with a crime : He was busted by U.S. inspectors at the border.
He was busted by U.S. inspectors at the border.b) informal if the police bust a place, they go into it to look for something illegal : Federal agents busted several money-exchange businesses.
Federal agents busted several money-exchange businesses.3 to try extremely hard to do something : I bust a gut trying to finish that work on time.
try hard
bust a gut
informal also bust your butt/ass American English spokenI bust a gut trying to finish that work on time.4 to use too much money, so that a business etc must stop operating : The trip to Spain will probably bust our budget.
money
American English informalThe trip to Spain will probably bust our budget.5 used with nouns to show that a situation is being ended or an activity is being stopped : crime-busting laws
crime-busting/union-busting/budget-busting etc
informalcrime-busting laws6 used to say that you will try very hard to go somewhere or do something : Idaho or bust!
... or bust!
informalIdaho or bust!7 to give someone a lower military rank as a punishment [= demote]
military
PM especially American Englishbust out
phrasal verbbust up
phrasal verb1 British English if people bust up, they end their relationship or friendship [= break up]: They bust up after six years of marriage. ➔ bust-up (1)
They bust up after six years of marriage.2 to prevent an illegal activity or bad situation from continuing [= break up]: A couple of teachers stepped in to bust up the fight.
bust something ↔ up
A couple of teachers stepped in to bust up the fight.3 to damage or break something : A bunch of bikers busted up the bar.
bust something ↔ up
American EnglishA bunch of bikers busted up the bar.4 American English to start laughing a lot [= crack up]: Elaine busted up laughing at the sight of him.
Elaine busted up laughing at the sight of him.