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

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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 Brock Purdy gets paid, but not as much as Dominick Puni 49ers clear the decks for Brock Purdy: Say goodbye to the ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ storyline Bosa brothers or bust? Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2025 Too often, which is to say nearly every week, the pass rush came down to Trey Hendrickson or bust. Paul Dehner Jr., The Athletic, 11 Mar. 2025 How many teams in the NFL this season were truly Super Bowl or bust? Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 14 Feb. 2025 In many games this year, he’s been double-double or bust. Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 19 Feb. 2025 It is often set pieces or bust with Sean Dyche’s Everton. Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024 The area was boom or bust according to the demands for manganese. arkansasonline.com, 30 Nov. 2024 Even beyond the negative plays, Pittsburgh’s offense has become too boom or bust. Mike Defabo, The Athletic, 22 Nov. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Or bust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/or%20bust. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.

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