bust

¹

[ buhst ]

noun

1. 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.
2. the chest or breast, especially a woman's bosom.

bust

²

[ buhst ]

verb (used without object)

1. Informal.
   1. to burst.
   2. to go bankrupt.
   3. to collapse from the strain of making a supreme effort:

      She was determined to make straight A's or bust.

2. Cards.
   1. Draw Poker. to fail to make a flush or straight by one card.
   2. Blackjack. to draw cards exceeding the count of 21.

verb (used with object)

1. Informal.
   1. to burst.
   2. to bankrupt; ruin financially.
2. to demote, especially in military rank or grade:

   He was busted from sergeant to private three times.

3. to tame; break:

   to bust a bronco.

4. Slang.
   1. to place under arrest:

      The gang was busted and put away on narcotics charges.

   2. to subject to a police raid:

      The bar has been busted three times for selling drinks to minors.

5. Informal.
   1. to hit.
   2. to break; fracture:

      She fell and busted her arm.

noun

1. a failure.
2. Informal. a hit; sock; punch:

   He got a bust in the nose before he could put up his hands.

3. a sudden decline in the economic conditions of a country, marked by an extreme drop in stock-market prices, business activity, and employment; depression.
4. Slang.
   1. an arrest.
   2. a police raid.
5. Informal. a drinking spree; binge.
6. Cards.
   1. a very weak hand.
   2. Bridge. a hand lacking the potential to take a single trick.

adjective

1. Informal. bankrupt; broke.

verb phrase

1. Informal.
   1. to break up; separate:

      Sam and his wife busted up a year ago.

   2. to damage or destroy:

      Soldiers got in a fight and busted up the bar.

bust

¹

/ bʌst /

noun

1. the chest of a human being, esp a woman's bosom
2. a sculpture of the head, shoulders, and upper chest of a person

bust

²

/ bʌst /

verb

1. to burst or break
2. to make or become bankrupt
3. tr (of the police) to raid, search, or arrest

   the girl was busted for drugs

4. tr to demote, esp in military rank
5. tr to break or tame (a horse, etc)
6. tr to punch; hit
7. See gut
   bust a gut
   bust a gut See gut

noun

1. a raid, search, or arrest by the police
2. a punch; hit
3. a failure, esp a financial one; bankruptcy
4. a drunken party

adjective

1. broken
2. bankrupt
3. go bust
   go bust to become bankrupt

Word History and Origins

Origin of bust¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from French buste, from Italian busto, probably from Latin bustum “funeral pyre, ashes, grave mound, tomb,” presumably by association with the busts erected over graves

Origin of bust²

First recorded in 1755–65; variant of burst, by loss of r before s, as in ass ², bass ², passel, etc.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bust¹

C17: from French buste , from Italian busto a sculpture, of unknown origin

Origin of bust²

C19: from a dialect pronunciation of burst

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. bust ass, Slang: Vulgar. to fight with the fists; strike or thrash another.
2. bust on, Slang.
   1. to attack physically; beat up.
   2. to criticize or reprimand harshly.
   3. to make fun of or laugh at; mock.
   4. to inform on.
3. bust one's ass, Slang: Vulgar. to make an extreme effort; exert oneself.

More idioms and phrases containing bust

• break (bust) one's ass
• go broke (bust)

Example Sentences

Nobody ever says they want to become a cop so they can bust people for urinating in public or drinking alcohol on their stoop.

From The Daily Beast

Before this latest brush with the law, the rapper was facing pot-bust and unrelated gun charges.

From The Daily Beast

Because Wright was a no-show in criminal court to face the loud music and pot bust he already had an outstanding warrant.

From The Daily Beast

And every day, we bust our asses to continue “making it,” but we most certainly have not “made it.”

From The Daily Beast

People believe that the financial sector has been allowed to return to its pre-bust excesses.

From The Daily Beast

The back of her head will be quite in line with her charming little bust, and I for one shall walk round and laugh in her face.

From Project Gutenberg

Among these are "Medusa," a bronze bust; and a "Mater Dolorosa," in terra-cotta.

From Project Gutenberg

It was destroyed in the fire, but has been replaced, and few could tell the present bust is not the original one.

From Project Gutenberg

A neat little monument, with a marble bust, is erected to the memory of the founder.

From Project Gutenberg

The only sure thing about most of those schemes is the certainty of 'going bust' and losing every penny you have in the world.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• apprehend
• detain
• pinch