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.
But he said that he did not expect a bust-up at the summit between Trump and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 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
When they're of a mind to talk, they might want to address rumours of a bust-up between players in the tunnel.
From BBC ● Mar. 8, 2026
But worse was to follow three minutes later with the scarcely believable bust-up between Gueye and Keane.
From Barron's ● 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
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
