ballbuster
|ball-bust-er|
🇺🇸
/ˈbɔːlˌbʌstər/
🇬🇧
/ˈbɔːlˌbʌstə/
extremely harsh/tough (breaks one down)
Etymology
'ballbuster' originates from English, specifically a compound of 'ball' and 'buster', where 'ball' was used in slang to mean 'testicle' (and by extension 'courage' or something of force) and 'buster' derives from 'bust' meaning 'to break' or 'to defeat'.
'ballbuster' emerged in mid‑20th century American slang, formed from the phrase 'to bust someone's balls' and earlier written as 'ball‑buster' or 'ball buster' before consolidating to the single word 'ballbuster'.
Initially tied to the literal/slang idea of 'busting balls' (physical or intimidating action), it shifted to a figurative sense meaning a very harsh, demanding person or a punishing task.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an informal, often slang term for a person who is extremely demanding, harsh, or strict — someone who pushes others very hard or is very severe.
Her boss is a real ballbuster—he expects people to work late every night.
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Noun 2
informal slang for a thing, job, or task that is extremely difficult, grueling, or unpleasant.
That project was a real ballbuster and took us three months to finish.
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Last updated: 2026/01/06 08:15