be busted

Idioms  

1. Also, go bust . Become bankrupt, financially ruined. For example, Who knew that the brokerage firm would be busted ? [ Slang ; early 1800s] Also see under go broke .

2. Also, get busted . Be demoted, as in If you're caught gambling you'll get busted to private . This usage originated in the military and still most often denotes a reduction in rank. [c. 1800]

3. Also, get busted . Be arrested or turned over to the police, as in The gang members were sure they'd get busted . [Mid-1900s]

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Example Sentences

It is widely accepted that current forms of encryption – the way in which we store both personal data and official secrets – will one day be busted by quantum technology being able to churn through every single possible combination in record time, until the data becomes unscrambled.

From BBC

“It’s important that Mathews underestimate him. And to do that, I wanted him to be busted, like, ‘Is this guy going to make it through the afternoon, let alone solve the case?’”

From Los Angeles Times

A phone exchange between the two plotters and others, stated: "Oh dear. Voldemort is never going to be busted by the immigration service now."

From BBC

Kosteniuk as White allows her queenside to be busted up and renounces castling in exchange for the bishop pair and a half-open b-file, but neither works to her advantage in the ensuring play.

From Washington Times

It’s unlikely the years-long drought will be busted, but a deeper dent in the deficit is at the very least probable.

From Washington Post