or bust

(somewhere or something) or bust

An expression used to indicate that someone will not stop trying until they arrive at a certain place or achieve a certain goal. Ever since he was a little boy, it's been the Marine Corps or bust for Tom. We've saved up everything we had to make this move, so it's San Francisco or bust!
See also: bust
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

... or ˈbust

(informal) used to say that you will try very hard to get somewhere or achieve something: For him it’s the Olympics or bust.
See also: bust
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • (somewhere or something) or bust
  • certain
  • treat (someone or something) like (someone or something else)
  • treat like
  • a dead cert
  • cert
  • establish
  • establish (oneself, someone, or something) as (something)
  • establish as
  • under certain circumstances