bust out v.2
1. (orig. US) to escape, usu. from prison; thus busting out n., escaping.
(con. c.1840) Huckleberry Finn 328: If dey was a rattlesnake to come in heah I’d take en bust right out thoo dat log wall. | ||
A Thousand and One Afternoons [ebook] Lucky O'Connor, who had busted his way out of jail and was being hunted by a million people with guns [etc]. | ||
(con. 1910s) Studs Lonigan (1936) 129: They were scared to hell that he’d bust out [...] Studs thought it would be a good thing to run away from home. | Young Lonigan in||
Don’t Get Me Wrong (1956) 35: I bust outa that jail this afternoon. | ||
(con. 1948) Flee the Angry Strangers 15: I busted out. | ||
Rap Sheet 48: You guys must be them two that busted out of Stony Mountain to-day! | ||
Gonif 21: You young guys are the ones who should be licking your chops over busting out. | ||
Animal Factory 179: The secret of busting out . . . is to keep your mind on it all the time, keep thinking, watching. | ||
A-Team Storybook 25: Come morning, we’re busting out of here. | ||
Doing Time 187: To bust out of prison means to escape. | ||
Aus. Prison Sl. Gloss. 🌐 Bust. 2. Escape. As in to ‘bust out’ of prison. | ||
Hip-Hop Connection Jan. 84: Neighbourhood thug Debo has just busted out of jail. | ||
Bad Boy Boogie [ebook] Okie always said if he busted out, they could shoot him dead soon as he got two things [etc]. |
2. (orig. US) to run off, to leave.
Cincinnati Enquirer (OH) 12 May 12/1: ‘I busted out ontuh the drag agin, lookin’ fer a musheen tuh frisk’. | ||
High Sierra in Four Novels (1984) 374: They come busting out a couple of jumps ahead of a shotgun blast. | ||
Through Beatnik Eyeballs 25: I soon busted out this class cos I wasn’t making no headway date-wise. | ||
Come Monday Morning 51: Them long-haired faggots nowdays don’t come bustin’ outta the backfield luggin’ that ole pig-skin like this boy use’ to. | ||
Campus Sl. Oct. 2: bust out – leave a place either normally or in a hurry. | ||
Campus Sl. Mar. 2: bust outa here – leave. | ||
Curvy Lovebox 11: As I reach the van she busts out and starts runnin’. | ||
Wire ser. 5 ep. 2 [TV script] Anybody come bustin’ out the back, you bust that shit. | ‘Unconfirmed Reports’||
On the Bro’d 211: He made Derek promise not to text him [...] and busted out. |
3. in fig. use, to happen, esp. suddenly, explosively.
Jailbait Street (1963) 28: Things could bust out at any time. |
4. to free someone from a problem.
in Sweet Daddy 31: The nut kid comes to me I should bust him out of a jam. |
5. (W.I., also bus out) in fig. use, to be successful.
Official Dancehall Dict. 7: Bus-out 1. to make it big, to enjoy success. |
6. (US) to help someone else escape from prison.
Snow Crash (1993) 72: If I get popped, you’re supposed to come round and help bust me out. |