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
With his right flank doubling down on calls for massive spending cuts (which, to be clear, would have no chance of becoming law) or bust, Johnson has had little choice but to work with Democrats to keep the government funded.
—
Tia Yang, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2024
What are your reasonable hopes? Playoffs or bust, baby!
—Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 27 Mar. 2024
In almost every season of the last decade, World Series or bust has been their default setting.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2024
The administration’s goal seems to be nothing less than the immediate and complete transformation of the Chinese economy or bust—with bust the most likely outcome.
—Chad P. Bown, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2019
In my view, this result is due in part to the 24-hour news cycle and a financial press that attempts to provide exciting programming by switching between a boom or bust scenario even during the same day.
—Tom Aspray, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024
Griffin was hired after being a career assistant to lead a roster full of veterans and with a championship or bust mindset.
—Christopher Kuhagen, Journal Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2024
The pressure to replace Saban will be so intense, the bar for success will be so high — 12 wins or bust — that many of the game’s top coaches won’t touch the job.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 11 Jan. 2024
An autumn that began with national championship dreams has now been whittled to the Rob Gronkowski Bowl or bust, and the aftermath of this final dagger on Saturday night was absolutely heartbreaking.
—Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2023
Tia Yang, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2024
What are your reasonable hopes? Playoffs or bust, baby!
—Daniel Kohn, SPIN, 27 Mar. 2024
In almost every season of the last decade, World Series or bust has been their default setting.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2024
The administration’s goal seems to be nothing less than the immediate and complete transformation of the Chinese economy or bust—with bust the most likely outcome.
—Chad P. Bown, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2019
In my view, this result is due in part to the 24-hour news cycle and a financial press that attempts to provide exciting programming by switching between a boom or bust scenario even during the same day.
—Tom Aspray, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024
Griffin was hired after being a career assistant to lead a roster full of veterans and with a championship or bust mindset.
—Christopher Kuhagen, Journal Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2024
The pressure to replace Saban will be so intense, the bar for success will be so high — 12 wins or bust — that many of the game’s top coaches won’t touch the job.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 11 Jan. 2024
An autumn that began with national championship dreams has now been whittled to the Rob Gronkowski Bowl or bust, and the aftermath of this final dagger on Saturday night was absolutely heartbreaking.
—Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'or bust.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near or bust
Cite this Entry
“Or bust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/or%20bust. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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