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
They also have a new rival further to the right, Restore Britain, founded by one of its own former MPs, Rupert Lowe, who had a spectacular bust-up with the party.
From BBC ● Mar. 21, 2026
And this isn't a bust-up between buddies that will easily blow over.
From BBC ● Feb. 16, 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
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.
