busted

be busted

1. To be bankrupt or without money. I wagered all I owned on that investment, and now I am completely busted.
2. In the military, to be demoted in rank. The four lieutenants were caught with drugs and alcohol, and all were subsequently busted to the rank of cadet.
3. To be arrested by the police. I told you we'd be busted if we tried to sell alcohol without a license!
4. To be caught in the act of wrongdoing, bad behavior, or lying. I was busted by my parents when I tried sneaking into the house after curfew last night. I saw what you did, you are so busted!
5. To be broken, physically damaged, or in a state of disrepair. Ah, no one can get this car to run, it's completely busted.
See also: busted

bust

1. verb, informal To smash or break something with force. I had to use a shovel to bust the large clumps of ice that had formed around the wheels of my truck.
2. verb, informal To cause something to be inoperable or unusable; to break something. I think I busted my laptop when I dropped it earlier. It won't turn on for me.
3. verb, informal To break apart. The vase toppled off the table and busted into a dozen pieces.
4. verb, slang To injure a part of one's body. I tripped and busted my lip on the concrete step. Those two goons busted up my arm after I refused to pay the money.
5. verb, slang To punch, strike, or thrash someone or something. He said he would bust my face open if I ever said that about his mother again.
6. verb, slang To catch or apprehend someone for doing something illegal, illicit, or not allowed. The police finally busted the guy who had stolen all that money. I heard Tommy's parents busted him while he was smoking a joint.
7. verb, slang To raid a location in search of something illegal or illicit. Police busted one of the cartel's largest drug-processing compounds today, arresting more than 20 people and seizing more than $2.5 million worth of cocaine.
8. noun, slang A police raid on a location in search of something illegal or illicit. Today's bust led to the arrest of more than 20 people and the seizure of more than $2.5 million worth of cocaine.
9. noun, dated slang An indulgence of wild or celebratory activity, especially involving heavy alcohol consumption. We went on a quite a bust once the job was finished. Started on Friday and didn't stop drinking till morning. The university has been clamping down at beer busts held at the various fraternities and sororities around the campus.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

busted

1. and bust mod. arrested. Harry the Horse is bust again. The third time this month. How many times you been busted for speeding?
2. mod. alcohol intoxicated. I went to a beer bust and got busted.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See:
  • a busted flush
  • be busted
  • bust
  • bust (one)
  • bust (one's) agates
  • bust (one's) ass
  • bust (one's) butt
  • bust (one's) cherry
  • bust (one's) gut
  • bust (one's) nuts
  • bust (one's) stones
  • bust (some) suds
  • bust (someone or something) wide open
  • bust (someone) one
  • bust a bronco
  • bust a gut
  • bust a move
  • bust a nut
  • bust ass
  • bust ass out of (some place)
  • bust out
  • bust out laughing
  • bust out of (some place)
  • bust out of this popsicle stand
  • bust up
  • busted
  • busted flush
  • flat broke
  • flat busted
References in periodicals archive
BUSTED: A study found teens who slept less were way more likely to engage in reckless activities.
Sleep myths busted
We could not think of a better partnership,” Stefanie LaHart
, CEO Busted Foundation.
Rokform[R] Donates to Busted Foundation for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Lawyer Andrew Forbes, for Busted, said after the ruling: "James and Matt believed that their claims were false and were motivated by jealousy of their success and sour grapes."
WE'RE BUSTED! Band rejects lose pounds 10m royalties bid
The case that was launched yesterday involved a claim that Busted are liable for any damages and a demand for the band's accounts so that a figure can be worked out from sales of records and performances of the songs at the centre of the dispute.
Boy band Busted sued for millions by ex-members
"It's weird how people see me differently now because I do exactly in this band what I did in Busted."
Son Of Dork born from Busted split; Music
At the press conference in London yesterday, the 19-year-old said: "I'm proud of everything we've achieved in Busted - we've enjoyed some of the best times of our lives together.
Busted's Charlie gets serious; vox pop
Peter said: "When Matt returns he is immediately collared by the bride who reveals she is 'more nervous about meeting Busted than I was about getting married.'
BUSTED OUSTED BY BONO; U2 SAYS YOU THREE CAN'T SIT HERE
'They've done two gigs but it doesn't affect Busted in any way.
Kiss & Tell: Busted head for bust-up
Busted reached No 1 last month with their third single, You Said No.
Your chance to catch Busted
Anti-illegal drugs operatives busted Ronalyn de Silva, 30, after she allegedly sold shabu to an undercover police officer in a transaction in Barangay (village) Lutucan 1 around 8:40 p.m.
3 alleged drug pushers fall in Quezon buy-busts
RAWALPINDI, October 26, 2010 (Balochistan Times): The water pipe lines lying in jurisdiction of TMA Rawal town have burst during digging for reconstruction of streets and roads in the area while the busted water pipelines are creating problems for residents.
Busted water pipeline creating shortage of water in Rawal Town
HIS new band has flopped but James Bourne reckons it was inevitable that Son Of Dork wouldn't be as big as Busted.
3AM: DORKY JAMES IS A FLOP STAR
TEEN pin-up Charlie Simpson will be performing in Coventry tonight just hours after splitting from pop heart-throbs Busted.
Charlie to perform in city after Busted split
BOY band Busted are going their separate ways, it was revealed last night.
BUSTED APART; Teenage torment as Charlie quits
And Busted's other two band members, Matt Jay and James Bourne, are 'taking a break', the spokesman added.
Eight top three hits, then bust