bust (redirected from busting)

blow something wide open and bust something wide open

Sl. to expose corrupt practices or a secret plan; to put an end to corruption. The press is trying to blow the town wide open, and the feds are trying to hush them up so they can move about in secret. I'm going to bust this racket wide open.

See also: blow, open, wide

break (someone's) balls and break (someone's) stones; bust (someone's) balls; bust (someone's) stones 

1. Sl. to wreck or ruin (someone); to overwork someone; to overwhelm someone. (Potentially offensive. Use only with discretion.) The boss acts like he's trying to break everybody's balls all the time. No need to break my balls. I'll do it!

2. Sl. to kid or tease (someone). Don't sweat what I said—I was just bustin' balls. Hey, relax, he didn't mean it. He was just breakin' your stones!

See also: ball, break

bust (some) suds 

1. Sl. to drink some beer. (Bust is a nonstandard form of burst. See also crack some suds.) Let's go out and bust some suds. I'm tired of busting suds. Let's play cards.

2. Sl. to wash dishes. (Bust is a non-standard form of burst.) I don't want to spend the rest of my life busting suds. You get into that kitchen and bust some suds to earn your allowance.

See also: suds

bust someone one

Sl. to punch someone; to give someone a punch, probably in the face. (Bust is a nonstandard form of burst meaning 'hit' here.) You better shut up, or I'll bust you one! You want me to bust you one? I will if you do that again.

See also: one

bust someone out of some place and bust someone out 

1. Sl. to help someone escape from prison. (Bust is a non-standard form of burst meaning 'break' here.) Lefty did not manage to bust Max out of prison. Lefty wanted to bust out some of his friends.

2. Sl to expel or force someone to withdraw from school. (Bust is a nonstandard form of burst meaning 'break' here.) The clean finally busted Bill out of school. The clean busted out the students with very low grades.

See also: out, place, some

bust someone up 

1. Sl to cause lovers to separate; to break up a pair of lovers, including married persons. (See also bust something up.) Bust is a nonstandard form of burst meaning 'break (apart)' here. Mary busted Terri and John up. Mary busted up Terri and John.

2. Sl to beat someone up; to batter someone. (Bust is a nonstandard form of burst meaning 'hit' here.) You want me to bust you up? Max busted up Lefty pretty badly.

See also: up

bust someone wide open

Sl. to beat someone severely. (An exaggeration. Bust is a nonstandard form of burst.) If you ever take a step onto my property, I'll bust you wide open. Jim threatened to bust Bill wide open.

See also: open, wide

bust something up 

1. Inf. to break or ruin something; to break something into smaller pieces. (Bust is a nonstandard form of burst meaning 'break' here.) Who busted this plate up? Don't bust up the plates! Be careful!

2. Sl to ruin a marriage by coming between the married people. (See also bust someone up. Bust is a nonstandard form of burst meaning 'break' here.) He busted their marriage up by starting rumors about Maggie. He busted up their marriage.

See also: up

bust a bronco

to ride and thus tame a wild horse so that it can be ridden. (Bust is a nonstandard form of burst.) In them days, I made my living busting broncos. That was the meanest bronco I ever seen. Nobody could bust 'im.

bust a gut (to do something)

Fig. to work very hard; to strain oneself to accomplish something. (The word gut is considered impolite in some circumstances. Bust is a non-standard form of burst.) I don't intend to bust a gut to get there on time. I busted a gut to get there the last time, and I was the first one there.

See also: gut

bust a move

Sl. to leave (a place.) Let's go. Time to bust a move. Let's bust a move. Lots to do tomorrow.

See also: move

bust ass out of some place

Sl. to get out of some place in a hurry. (Potentially offensive. Use only with discretion.) I had to bust ass out of the house and run all the way to school. Bob busted ass out of the classroom and headed for home.

See also: ass, out, place, some

bust out (of some place)

Sl. to break out of some place, especially a prison. (Bust is a nonstandard form of burst meaning 'break' here.) Somehow the gangsters busted out of prison and left the country. They busted out together.

See also: out

bust out laughing

Fig. to start laughing suddenly. Bust is a nonstandard form of burst. I busted out laughing when I saw him in that get-up. The bridegroom was so nervous, it was all he could do not to bust out laughing.

See also: laugh, out

bust up 

1. Sl [for lovers] to separate or break up. (Bust is a nonstandard form of burst meaning 'break' here.) Tom and Alice busted up for good. They busted up last week.

2. Sl [for something] to break up due to natural causes. (Bust is a nonstandard form of burst meaning 'break (apart)' here.) The rocket busted up in midair. I saw it bust up.

See also: up

split a gut and bust a gut 

1. Fig. Inf. to laugh very hard. He laughed until he nearly split a gut. The clown made me bust a gut laughing.

2. Fig. Inf. to work very hard. I split a gut to get this place fixed up in a week. Don't bust a gut cleaning up for me. I love things that are a bit messy.

See also: gut, split

Well, bust my buttons!

Rur. What a surprise! Well, bust my buttons! It's good to see you! Well, bust my buttons! You did all the dishes!

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blow something wide open 

1. to make it impossible to guess who will win a competition She was the favourite to win, so her withdrawal has blown the election wide open.

2. to make something that someone is trying to achieve fail completely, often by telling people something which should have been a secret He's threatening to blow the whole operation wide open if we don't give him a bigger share of the profits.

See also: blow, open, wide

burst/bust a blood vessel  (informal)

1. to use a lot of effort doing something I'd like the designs as soon as possible, but don't bust a blood vessel!

2. to become very angry and start shouting He nearly burst a blood vessel when he heard what they'd done to his car.

See also: blood, burst, vessel

bust your ass  (American very informal!)

to work very hard He'll just have to bust his ass to make sure the job is finished on time.

See also: ass

bust your ass/balls  (American very informal!) also bust your arse (Australian very informal!)

to use a lot of effort to do something I busted my balls getting him that ticket, and now he's changed his mind! He bust his arse for ten years in that job and got no thanks for it.

See burst a blood vessel

See also: ass

bust a gut  (informal)

to work very hard or to make a big effort to achieve something I really bust a gut to get that report finished on time.

See also: gut

bust a gut (laughing)  (informal)

to laugh a lot I bust a gut laughing at his imitation of the Queen.

See also: gut

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bust a gut (slang)

1. to work very hard to achieve something It’s kind of sad to see these kids bust a gut chasing a dream that will never succeed.

2. to laugh very energetically I busted a gut reading that essay.

Etymology: based on the idea that extremely hard physical work or laughter could damage your gut (stomach)

See also: gut