Busting
/ˈbʌstɪŋ/
verbBeginnerCommonGeneral
Idiom
Meanings
Questions
Definitions
2 meanings1
To break or shatter something forcefully.
/ˈbʌstɪŋ/
verbneutralBeginner
General
Breaking something forcefully.
He was busting rocks all day.
💡 Simply: To break something.
More Examples
2
The storm busted the windows.
How It's Used
General
"The police were busting down the door."
2
To work extremely hard; to be very busy.
/ˈbʌstɪŋ/
verbneutralIntermediate
General
Being extremely busy or active.
They were busting their butts to meet the deadline.
💡 Simply: Working very hard.
More Examples
2
She's been busting a gut lately.
How It's Used
Informal Conversation
"I've been busting my hump all week."
Tip:Imagine someone 'busting' with energy.
Idioms & expressions
bust a gut
To laugh very hard.
"I busted a gut laughing at his joke."
From "bust," meaning to break or to be very busy, ultimately from Middle English "busten." The -ing suffix indicates a continuous action.
The sense of "breaking" has long been present; the sense of "working hard" developed later and is more colloquial.
Memory tip
Think of a police raid – busting in!
Practice
bustinbustting
Usage
70%Spoken
30%Written