bust-up
Americannoun
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a separation or dissolution, as of a marriage or a close friendship.
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a large party, especially a noisy one.
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Chiefly British. a quarrel; disturbance; punch-up.
noun
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a quarrel, esp a serious one ending a friendship, etc
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a disturbance or brawl
verb
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(intr) to quarrel and part
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(tr) to disrupt (a meeting), esp violently
Etymology
Origin of bust-up
First recorded in 1840–50; noun use of verb phrase bust up
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The declaration -- much like the summit itself -- has been kept short to minimise the chances of a bust-up with Trump.
From Barron's ● Jul. 3, 2026
During the Morocco match, Scott McTominay and Jack Hendry were caught on camera having a bust-up during a hydration break.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026
They also have a new rival further to the right, Restore UK, founded by one of its own former MPs, Rupert Lowe, who had a spectacular bust-up with the party.
From BBC ● Mar. 21, 2026
Takaichi has given little indication that she is rattled by the bust-up.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 24, 2025
I knowed Mr. Leroy’s heart was so bust-up that I was gonna have to do the thinking for both of us.
From "Elijah of Buxton" by Christopher Paul Curtis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
