Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

like gangbusters

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.11 in modern English

Syllables: like -gang-busters
IPA

23

Scrabble Score

15

Letters

3

Syllables

12

Unique Chars

Meaning

prep_phrase

Vigorously, rapidly, zealously, or forcibly; in a manner which has considerable impact.

Colloquial

Example Sentences

""Put an actress in knock-out clothes and she'll come through like gangbusters.""
"Chromebooks are selling like gangbusters, but the party could be coming to an end [title]"
"Wearing its politics heavier on its sleeve is Being the Ricardos, a late-breaking Amazon Studios film from Aaron Sorkin that played like gangbusters at industry screenings in New York and Los Angeles."

Etymology

From the American true crime radio drama Gang Busters (1936–1957), which opened abruptly with loud sound effects of police sirens, machine guns, etc.

Usage

Colloquial

Questions

What does like gangbusters mean?: Vigorously, rapidly, zealously, or forcibly; in a manner which has considerable impact.
Where does like gangbusters come from?: From the American true crime radio drama Gang Busters (1936–1957), which opened abruptly with loud sound effects of police sirens, machine guns, etc.

How to pronounce like gangbusters

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