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bust
1[buhst]
noun
a sculptured, painted, drawn, or engraved representation of the upper part of the human figure, especially a portrait sculpture showing only the head and shoulders of the subject.
the chest or breast, especially a woman's bosom.
bust
2[buhst]
verb (used without object)
Informal.
to burst.
to go bankrupt.
to collapse from the strain of making a supreme effort.
She was determined to make straight A's or bust.
Cards.
Draw Poker.to fail to make a flush or straight by one card.
Blackjack.to draw cards exceeding the count of 21.
verb (used with object)
Informal.
to burst.
to bankrupt; ruin financially.
to demote, especially in military rank or grade.
He was busted from sergeant to private three times.
to tame; break.
to bust a bronco.
Slang.
to place under arrest.
The gang was busted and put away on narcotics charges.
to subject to a police raid.
The bar has been busted three times for selling drinks to minors.
Informal.
to hit.
to break; fracture.
She fell and busted her arm.
noun
a failure.
He got a bust in the nose before he could put up his hands.
a sudden decline in the economic conditions of a country, marked by an extreme drop in stock-market prices, business activity, and employment; depression.
Slang.
an arrest.
a police raid.
Informal.a drinking spree; binge.
Cards.
a very weak hand.
Bridge.a hand lacking the potential to take a single trick.
verb phrase
Informal
to break up; separate.
Sam and his wife busted up a year ago.
to damage or destroy.
Soldiers got in a fight and busted up the bar.
bust
1/ ʌ /
verb
to burst or break
to make or become bankrupt
(tr) (of the police) to raid, search, or arrest
the girl was busted for drugs
(tr) to demote, esp in military rank
(tr) to break or tame (a horse, etc)
(tr) to punch; hit
See gut
noun
a raid, search, or arrest by the police
a punch; hit
a failure, esp a financial one; bankruptcy
a drunken party
adjective
broken
bankrupt
to become bankrupt
bust
2/ ʌ /
noun
the chest of a human being, esp a woman's bosom
a sculpture of the head, shoulders, and upper chest of a person
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of bust1
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of bust1
Origin of bust2
Idioms and Phrases
bust ass, to fight with the fists; strike or thrash another.
bust on,
to attack physically; beat up.
to criticize or reprimand harshly.
to make fun of or laugh at; mock.
to inform on.
bust one's ass, to make an extreme effort; exert oneself.
Example Sentences
Padilla, the Trumpian version of the story now goes, got what he deserved: He busted into a press conference uninvited, they say, pushed his way toward the stage and failed to identify himself.
Its marketing push is part of a drive for growth, investment and subsequent financial security after the chastening demise of Worcester, Wasps and London Irish, who all went bust in the 2022-23 season.
“It’s more of a musical experience than a traditional musical, so it’s very genre busting and innovative,” Feldman said of the technique used to bring the music to life.
When DeBlois pans around Berk’s gathering hall, each citizen seems more busted up and exhausted than the last.
At least 17 glass-covered light boxes surrounding the structure were busted, with broken shards of blue-gray glass covering the light fixtures.
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When To Use
The phrase or bust is used when someone is pursuing an end no matter what, even if they fail trying. Saying New York City or bust, for example, means someone is doing absolutely everything to go there.How is or bust pronounced?[ awr buhst ]
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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