bust 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 someone up
1. Sl to cause lovers to separate; to break up a pair of lovers, including married persons. (See also bust something up.) Bust is a nonstandard form of burst meaning 'break (apart)' here. Mary busted Terri and John up. Mary busted up Terri and John.
2. Sl to beat someone up; to batter someone. (Bust is a nonstandard form of burst meaning 'hit' here.) You want me to bust you up? Max busted up Lefty pretty badly.
See also: bust, up
bust something up
1. Inf. to break or ruin something; to break something into smaller pieces. (Bust is a nonstandard form of burst meaning 'break' here.) Who busted this plate up? Don't bust up the plates! Be careful!
2. Sl to ruin a marriage by coming between the married people. (See also bust someone up. Bust is a nonstandard form of burst meaning 'break' here.) He busted their marriage up by starting rumors about Maggie. He busted up their marriage.
See also: bust, up
bust up
1. Sl [for lovers] to separate or break up. (Bust is a nonstandard form of burst meaning 'break' here.) Tom and Alice busted up for good. They busted up last week.
2. Sl [for something] to break up due to natural causes. (Bust is a nonstandard form of burst meaning 'break (apart)' here.) The rocket busted up in midair. I saw it bust up.
See also: bust, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
bust someone up
1. tv. to cause lovers to separate; to break up a pair of lovers, including married persons. (Bust is a nonstandard form of burst meaning “break (apart)” here.) Mary busted up Terri and John.
2. tv. to beat someone up; to batter someone. You want me to bust you up?
See also: bust, someone, up
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
bust up
in. [for lovers] to separate or break up. Tom and Alice busted up for good.
See also: bust, up
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
- bust someone up
- bust something up
- break someone up
- in bits and pieces
- to bits
- fly apart
- plaster over
- plaster up
- fall to bits
- bits and pieces