bust something up
bust up
1. To come apart in pieces. The house is so old that the plaster on this wall has busted up—there are bits of it all over the floor.
2. To end a partnership of some kind, often a romantic relationship. I'm so sad to hear that Mara and John busted up—I thought those two would be together forever. The Beatles busting up is considered a pivotal moment in rock history.
3. To induce the end of a partnership of some kind, often a romantic relationship. I heard that constant dishonesty busted up their marriage.
4. To physically attack someone, as with punches and other blows, such that they suffer significant injury. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "bust" and "up." The captain of the football team swore he would bust me up if I ever talked to his girlfriend again. I can't believe that skinny kid busted up the school bully!
See also: bust, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
bust something up
tv. to ruin a marriage by coming between the married people. He busted their marriage up by starting rumors about Maggie.
See also: bust, something, up
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
- bust someone up
- bust up
- break someone up
- in bits and pieces
- to bits
- fly apart
- plaster over
- plaster up
- fall to bits
- bits and pieces