bust-up
|bust/up|
/ˈbʌstʌp/
sudden break or quarrel
Etymology
'bust-up' originates in English as a compound of the colloquial verb 'bust' (to break, burst, or ruin) and the particle 'up' (intensifying or indicating completion).
'bust' developed as an informal variant related to older verbs meaning 'burst' (attested in dialect and informal English in the 18th–19th centuries); the phrasal verb 'bust up' (verb + particle) arose in 19th-century usage, and the hyphenated noun 'bust-up' was later formed by nouning the phrasal verb to refer to the resulting quarrel or break.
Initially connected with the physical sense 'to break' or 'burst', over time 'bust up' gained extended senses such as 'to break up a relationship or group' and the noun 'bust-up' came to mean 'a quarrel' or 'a breakup'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a serious argument or quarrel, often between people who had been on good terms.
They had a huge bust-up about money last week.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 2
the breaking up or ending of a relationship, marriage, partnership, or group (e.g., band's breakup).
The sudden bust-up of the band disappointed many fans.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 3
an instance of something being smashed or a collision/accident (chiefly informal).
The car was a complete bust-up after the crash.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Verb 1
to have a serious argument with someone; to quarrel.
They bust-up over the contract and aren't speaking now.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Verb 2
to break, smash, or severely damage something.
He threatened to bust-up the old television if it wasn't removed.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/01 16:29