hustle

hus·tle

verb \ˈhə-səl\

hus·tledhus·tling \ˈhə-s(ə-)liŋ\

Definition of HUSTLE

transitive verb

1

a : jostle, shove

b : to convey forcibly or hurriedly

c : to urge forward precipitately

2

a : to obtain by energetic activity <hustle up new customers>

b : to sell something to or obtain something from by energetic and especially underhanded activity <hustling the suckers>

c : to sell or promote energetically and aggressively <hustling a new product>

d : to lure less skillful players into competing against oneself at (a gambling game) <hustle pool>

intransitive verb

1

: shove, press

2

: hasten, hurry

3

a : to make strenuous efforts to obtain especially money or business

b : to obtain money by fraud or deception

c : to engage in prostitution

4

: to play a game or sport in an alert aggressive manner

— hustle noun

— hus·tler \ˈhə-slər\ noun

Examples of HUSTLE

1. The guards hustled the prisoners into the jail.
2. The star's manager hustled him out the back door of the theater to avoid the throngs of fans.
3. He's not the most talented player on the team, but he always hustles.
4. He's been hustling drugs for a few years.
5. They hustle diamonds, furs—whatever people are buying.

Origin of HUSTLE

Dutch husselen to shake, from Middle Dutch hutselen, frequentative of hutsen

First Known Use: 1720

Related to HUSTLE

Synonyms

bang away, beaver (away), dig (away), drudge, endeavor, fag, grub, hump, labor, moil, peg (away), plod, plow, plug, slave, slog, strain, strive, struggle, sweat, toil, travail, tug, work

Antonyms

crawl, creep, poke

Related Words

apply (oneself), buckle (down), dig in, hammer (away), knuckle down, pitch in; attack, drive; essay, try; exercise, exert, overexert, overwork; eke out, grind (out), put out, scrabble, scratch; trudge, wade

Near Antonyms

break, ease (up), let up, slacken; bum, chill, dally, dillydally, footle, goldbrick, goof (off), hack (around), hang (around or out), idle, laze, loaf, lounge, shirk, slack (off), veg out; bask, loll, relax, repose, rest, unwind; dabble, doodle, fool around, fribble, goof (around), hang, hang about [British], mess around, monkey (around), play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle

Rhymes with HUSTLE

bustle, muscle, mussel, rustle, tussle