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Synonyms

bust-up

American  
[buhst-uhp] / ˈbʌstˌʌp /

noun

Informal.

  1. a separation or dissolution, as of a marriage or a close friendship.

  2. a large party, especially a noisy one.

  3. Chiefly British. a quarrel; disturbance; punch-up.

bust-up British  

noun

  1. a quarrel, esp a serious one ending a friendship, etc

  2. a disturbance or brawl

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (intr) to quarrel and part

  2. (tr) to disrupt (a meeting), esp violently

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of bust-up

First recorded in 1840–50; noun use of verb phrase bust up

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The partial climbdown is not likely to result in an enormous bust-up – one of Angela Rayner's steadfast allies who pioneered the wider plans said they were a "little concerned" rather than frothing with rage.

From BBC • Nov. 29, 2025

But worse was to follow three minutes later with the scarcely believable bust-up between Gueye and Keane.

From Barron's • Nov. 24, 2025

Takaichi has given little indication that she is rattled by the bust-up.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 24, 2025

There have been no issues with training, no bust-up beyond a feeling of disappointment at being left out, no storyline that only the cameras will reveal in the next series of the documentary.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2025

Well, for a start, Ruth and Tommy had had a serious bust-up.

From "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.