bust a gut

Idioms  

1. Also, burst a gut.

2. Exert one-self to the utmost. For example, He was busting a gut trying to please her . This hyperbolic term alludes to hurting one's mid-section through physical straining. The first slangy term dates from the early 1900s, the variant from about 1700. For a synonym, see break one's ass .

3. Explode with strong feeling, especially laughter or anger. For example, Gene almost bust a gut laughing , or The foreman will burst a gut when he learns that the machine isn't repaired . The former dates from the late 1800s, the latter from about 1940.

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Example Sentences

Ms Sturgeon also said health teams would "bust a gut" to get booster jabs to all adults as quickly as possible.

From BBC • Dec. 13, 2021

“And I bust a gut laughing through every second of it. You are amazing … I will be a fan of yours forever.”

From Fox News • Nov. 14, 2019

“Even on some of the most boring, he’d stand up and sing some off-color country song — we’d almost have a baby trying not to bust a gut laughing.”

From New York Times • Aug. 8, 2017

I’ll admit that I’m not one of those theatergoers who hear the words “Ziploc” or “Best Western” and bust a gut, but this show is never going to duplicate the success of “Love Letters.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2017

I was laughing so hard I thought I’d bust a gut.

From "Crash" by Jerry Spinelli