bust a gut
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
To work or try very hard.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
I had to really bust a gut to get it done by the deadline.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
To develop a pain in the side from laughing hard.
Register: slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “bust a gut” mean?
To work or try very hard.
Is “bust a gut” formal or informal?
bust a gut is generally slang.