Phrase guide

or bust

phrase · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ɔː ˈbʌst/
  • Received-Pronunciation: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ɔɹ ˈbʌst/
  • General-American: /ɚ ˈbʌst/

1

phrase

Meaning 1

Used to indicate one's intention to do everything possible to achieve a goal, with failure being the only alternative.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Indicating that the only alternative to what is being attempted is a bust (“(slang) failed enterprise; bomb”).

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: tai ei mitään — used to indicate one's intention to do everything possible to achieve a goal, with failure being the only alternative
  • Spanish: o nada — used to indicate one's intention to do everything possible to achieve a goal, with failure being the only alternative