gangbuster

[ gang-buhs-ter ]

nounInformal.
  1. a law-enforcement officer who specializes in breaking up organized crime, often by forceful or sensational means.

  2. someone or something having great impact, usually in a positive way.

  1. 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.

adjectiveOften gangbusters.
  1. of or like a law-enforcement officer who uses rough, aggressive, or sensational tactics in fighting crime: The undercover agents avoided the gangbusters approach.

  2. strikingly effective or successful: a gangbusters year for compact cars.

  1. enthusiastic: I'm not gangbusters over the idea.

Idioms about gangbuster

  1. go gangbusters, to be extremely successful: The movie went gangbusters.

  2. 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.

Origin of gangbuster

1
First recorded in 1935–40; gang1 + buster

Words Nearby gangbuster

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use gangbuster in a sentence