go gangbusters

go gangbusters

To happen with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. Primarily heard in US. When I presented the case to my students, they went gangbusters to try to solve the mystery. Our offense went gangbusters and overwhelmed the other team.
See also: gangbuster, go
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

go gangbusters

proceed very vigorously or successfully. North American informal
Literally, a gangbuster is ‘a person who assists in the vigorous or violent break-up of criminal gangs’, from which the more general sense of ‘a successful person’ has developed. The phrase like gangbusters means ‘vigorously and successfully’.
1994 Wall Street Journal Sotheby's glamorous semi-annual black tie auction of contemporary art was going gangbusters.
See also: gangbuster, go
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • like gangbusters
  • like gangbusters, come on/going
  • come on like gangbusters
  • gangbuster
  • be going gangbusters
  • gangbusters
  • get stuck in
  • get stuck into (something)
  • a lease of life
  • a new lease of life
References in periodicals archive
"They decided to go gangbusters selling those securities" while knowing they were sour.
Goldman Sachs exec declares 'I did not mislead'
Even with this knowledge, college and university acting programs continue to go gangbusters, and the number of programs is increasing.
Actors and money
"You get a reintroduced population, and they go gangbusters [initially] and produce really big horns for a number of years," Keebler says.
The big decline: hunters are helping Arizona bighorns despite the antis' protests
It is not surprising that when teamed together on a project, Linda and Marlene would go gangbusters. Even before September 11, both recognized the need to increase the visibility of the nation's military nurses in AMSN.
Saluting our heroes. (Editorial)
Japan production will also go gangbusters in overseas markets targeting teens and genre fans.
Rurouni Kenshin
Pic has reaped a very grown-up $6 million since its June 20 bow and looks set to go gangbusters in ancillary.
Adulthood
Kosse holds up "Virgin" as a reason he thinks that "Knocked Up" will go gangbusters overseas even without big stars.
Offshore auds embrace romance
English-lingo limitations of the thesps will hamper sales in some territories, but the pic should go gangbusters throughout Asia and on the festival circuit.
Invisible Waves