bust someone's ass
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Also seen as: bust one's ass
Sense 1
Meaning · English
To hurt or beat up.
Register: slang, vulgar
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Say that again and I'm going to bust your ass.
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 work very hard, to put in a great amount of effort.
Register: slang, vulgar
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “bust someone's ass” mean?
To hurt or beat up.
Is “bust someone's ass” formal or informal?
bust someone's ass is generally slang, vulgar.