gangbusters
gangbusters Lexical Profile
gangbusters Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American Something or someone that acts with remarkable force, speed, or overwhelming success (used primarily in the phrase 'like gangbusters').
"Their new neighborhood bakery took off like gangbusters from the very first morning."
North American Plural of gangbuster: law enforcement officers or investigators who aggressively break up criminal gangs.
"The federal task force operated as modern-day gangbusters to dismantle the smuggling ring."
• adjective
North American Exceptionally vigorous, energetic, rapid, or successful.
"The company's third-quarter sales were gangbusters after the launch of the new product line."
• adverb
North American With great energy, speed, enthusiasm, or success (especially in the phrase 'go gangbusters').
"Ticket sales for the reunion concert have been going gangbusters all week."
Word Nuance & Usage
Most commonly encountered in the idiomatic phrase 'like gangbusters' (meaning with great speed, energy, or success) or as a predicate adjective in 'go gangbusters'.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Popularized in the 1930s by the American true-crime radio drama 'Gang Busters', which opened with a loud montage of sirens, screeching tires, and gunfire, giving rise to the phrase 'come on like Gang Busters'.