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bust someone's chops

idiom

: to criticize someone in a playful way : tease
My brother likes to bust my chops.

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bustrophedon
bust someone's chops
bust up
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“Bust someone's chops.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bust%20someone%27s%20chops. Accessed 5 Dec. 2025.

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