Idioms

bust your chops

bust (one's) chops

1. To exert a significant amount of energy or work very hard to do, accomplish, or complete something. I've been busting my chops all night long to get this presentation ready for tomorrow's meeting. She's going to have to bust her chops if she wants a place on the varsity team. We busted our chops cleaning the house before Mom got here, and she still said her room was dusty!

2. To harass, nag, or upbraid one to do, accomplish, or complete something. The boss is busting everyone's chops to get the project ready by next week. Quit busting my chops! I'll get it done eventually! I wouldn't have to bust your chops if you would just do your chores like you're supposed to!

See also: bust, chops

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

bust your chops

exert yourself. North American informal

See also: bust, chops

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

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References in periodicals archive

Then again, because they can see everything on the radar, the tower controller who's known your call sign since the BRITE days can easily bust your chops for being even 100 feet low when you started down the glideslope.

Color radar for tower: full-service radar for the tower controller greases the wheels of smooth traffic flow. This is good news for you

Question: Guys ever bust your chops a little about it?

Vincent plays through the pain

I'm not the 800-pound gorilla out to bust your chops, I feel your pain, and I'm your new best friend." For three pages, Lederer manages to sustain this litany of phrases to be avoided (like the plague?).

It'll drive by in a red convertible and offer you a lift with a flirty smile, then bust your chops and leave you for road-kill.

The 2-Million-Year-Old Man Speaks

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