GANGBUSTER Definition & Meaning

gangbuster

[ gang-buhs-ter ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Informal.

a law-enforcement officer who specializes in breaking up organized crime, often by forceful or sensational means.
someone or something having great impact, usually in a positive way.
gangbusters, an outstandingly successful state or situation:
We aren't looking for gangbusters, but we'd like you to pass all your subjects this semester.

adjective

of or like a law-enforcement officer who uses rough, aggressive, or sensational tactics in fighting crime:
The undercover agents avoided the gangbusters approach.
strikingly effective or successful:
a gangbusters year for compact cars.
enthusiastic:
I'm not gangbusters over the idea.

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of gangbuster¹

First recorded in 1935–40; gang ¹ + buster

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Idioms and Phrases

go gangbusters, to be extremely successful:
The movie went gangbusters.
like gangbusters, with great speed, intensity, vigor, impact, or success:
The software market was growing like gangbusters. The hockey team came on at the beginning of the season like gangbusters.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Pressed over whether the government's messaging could be making the situation worse, Sir Keir said: "No, I don't think so. I don't think that anybody seriously would argue that the NHS is going gangbusters."

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Sir Robert also recently opened an investigation into Mr Sunak's claim in May that the UK economy was "going gangbusters".

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The Spotlight arrives at a gangbusters time for Hollywood the neighborhood.

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While the programme was "going gangbusters" by the time Glazier stepped into the director's chair, he reveals the earliest shows required a creative approach.

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After a gentle start, this book goes gangbusters, then has a completely unexpected and ingenious ending.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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