or bust
idiom
informal
—used to say that one will do everything possible to get somewhere
The sign on the car said "New Orleans or bust!"
Examples of or bust in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This season will once again be Super Bowl or bust for the Bills.
—
Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
Mach 5 or bust Zachary Krevor, president and CEO of Stratolaunch, spoke with Ars on Monday afternoon.
—ArsTechnica, 6 May 2025
Amid weeks of talk about ‘Bilbao or bust’, the United head coach has at times felt like a lone dissenting voice, the only person in any way connected to Old Trafford looking beyond May 21.
—Mark Critchley, New York Times, 20 May 2025
To eat the food (turkey legs or bust!), and see the fireworks show.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 16 May 2025
Having more diverse forms of investment capital available could increase overall investment in education when the answer to every investment doesn’t have to equal a rapid homerun or bust.
—Michael B. Horn, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
Whether championing ocean conservation, rejecting questionable corporate partnerships, or prodding politicians to take bolder climate action, Patagonia’s stance remains consistent: real accountability or bust.
—Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Players are not only running, rolling, climbing and punching, but ripping up chunks of terrain to hurl at enemies or bust open new paths.
—New Atlas, 2 Apr. 2025
The Mets did make some huge moves this winter, signing the best free agent in the class in Juan Soto, and the expectation now is World Series or bust, or something like that.
—Keith Law, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
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Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
Mach 5 or bust Zachary Krevor, president and CEO of Stratolaunch, spoke with Ars on Monday afternoon.
—ArsTechnica, 6 May 2025
Amid weeks of talk about ‘Bilbao or bust’, the United head coach has at times felt like a lone dissenting voice, the only person in any way connected to Old Trafford looking beyond May 21.
—Mark Critchley, New York Times, 20 May 2025
To eat the food (turkey legs or bust!), and see the fireworks show.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 16 May 2025
Having more diverse forms of investment capital available could increase overall investment in education when the answer to every investment doesn’t have to equal a rapid homerun or bust.
—Michael B. Horn, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
Whether championing ocean conservation, rejecting questionable corporate partnerships, or prodding politicians to take bolder climate action, Patagonia’s stance remains consistent: real accountability or bust.
—Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Players are not only running, rolling, climbing and punching, but ripping up chunks of terrain to hurl at enemies or bust open new paths.
—New Atlas, 2 Apr. 2025
The Mets did make some huge moves this winter, signing the best free agent in the class in Juan Soto, and the expectation now is World Series or bust, or something like that.
—Keith Law, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Or bust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/or%20bust. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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