Dictionary

bust up en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio

Meanings

1. (US, informal, transitive) To physically damage or ruin; to be ruined; to go bankrupt; to end (something).
   • If I was school . . . I’d capitulate tomorrow. I’d bonfire the books, drain the inkwells and bust up the blackboard — if only he would stop hating. It’s wearing me out! 1957 November 14, Sputnik [pseudonym], “My Son Hates School”, in Daily Record, number 19,357, Glasgow: Scottish Daily Record and Sunday Mail, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 2, columns 2–3:
   • The doctor told me nothing that I didn't already know; my hand was busted up pretty good. It was too early to tell how badly it had been busted up, but I was most definitely out of the tournament. 2005, Ken Shamrock, Beyond the Lion's Den: The Life, The Fights, The Techniques:
2. (US, informal, intransitive) To break up (end a relationship).
   • I knew, because both Alison and Penny had taught me, that busting up with someone could be miserable, but I didn't know that getting off with someone could be miserable too. 1995, Nick Hornby, High Fidelity, London: Victor Gollancz, →ISBN, page 19:
3. (qualifier:African-American Vernacular, slang) To shoot (someone).
4. (slang) To express sudden and intense emotions; to burst into loud laughter.
5. (Australia, slang) To spend money wildly, especially on alcoholic drinks.

Forms