bust wide open

bust (someone or something) wide open

1. To physically attack someone, as with punches and other blows, such that they suffer significant injury; to beat someone up. Often used in the context of a threat. The captain of the football team swore he would bust me wide open if I ever talked to his girlfriend again. I can't believe that skinny kid busted the school bully wide open!
2. To expose something scandalous or deceptive or make it subject to closer scrutiny. That company's stock price plummeted after the media busted the CEO's embezzlement scandal wide open. An anonymous tip to the police is what busted the theft ring wide open.
See also: bust, open, wide
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

bust someone wide open

Sl. to beat someone severely. (An exaggeration. Bust is a nonstandard form of burst.) If you ever take a step onto my property, I'll bust you wide open. Jim threatened to bust Bill wide open.
See also: bust, open, wide
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • be out of (one's) league
  • be out of somebody's league
  • be (not) a patch on
  • accompany (one) on a/(one's) journey
  • accompany on a journey
  • (one) puts (one's) pants on one leg at a time
  • brief (someone) about (someone or something)
  • brief about
  • a happy bunny
  • a happy camper
References in periodicals archive
That particular Pandora's Box has been bust wide open by video assisted referees, and retrospective action on simulation and other unpunished offences.
I want you to overcome 'em with yeses, undermine 'em with grins, agree ' em to death and destruction, let ' em swolller you till they vomit or bust wide open."
Pre-rut activity had been on the increase and things were "fixin' to bust wide open".
I think that her world is about to be bust wide open." And Mr Big, played by Chris Noth, will be reappearing in her life.