blockbuster n.1
1. a very hard blow, literal or fig. use.
![]() | Time 12 June 11: The President then quietly dropped his blockbuster. | |
![]() | Good Deeds Must Be Punished 78: He caught Murray high on the side of his head before Murray’s blockbuster dropped him. | |
![]() | (con. 1940s) Wax Boom 250: Another blockbuster had turned part of the canal into a lake. | |
![]() | No Red Ribbons (1968) 288: In February, 1959, Three threw a block-buster at Paul. |
2. anything enormous, gigantic; often used of a best-selling novel, film, TV series etc; also attrib.
![]() | Ladies’ Home Journal Nov. 116: The day was an emotional block buster for them all. | |
![]() | (con. 1944) Gallery (1948) 47: There was also the largest woman in captivity [...] We called her Blockbuster. | |
![]() | Keep It Crisp 90: It’s poetic and yet it’s timely too! It’s a blockbuster, V.J.! | ‘Take Two Parts Sand, One Part Girl’ in|
![]() | Joint (1972) 147: Aside from these blockbusters. | letter 15 Oct. in|
![]() | Proud Highway (1997) 433: It will not be a blockbuster, but it might be coherent. | letter 28 Jan. in|
![]() | Digger’s Game (1981) 114: This could be a blockbuster operation. | |
![]() | Joe Bob Goes to the Drive-In 98: We have a blockbuster holiday flick, exclusively playing on the outdoor screen. | |
![]() | Guardian Rev. 25 June 12: I have never been one for easy summer reads of the blockbuster variety. [Ibid.] 29: t’s generally perceived as a celluloid blockbuster-to-be. | |
![]() | Guardian Guide 29 Jan.–4 Feb. 8: A profitable summer blockbuster. |
3. an intoxicating drink.
![]() | Omaha World-Herald 30 Dec. 3: Blockbuster [an intoxicating drink]. |
4. (drugs) barbiturates.
![]() | Born to Raise Hell in Lingeman (1969) n.p.: We had some blockbusters (white barbiturate pills with a yellow stripe [Nembutal]). | |
![]() | Bk of Jargon 336: blockbusters: Barbiturate pills, possibly Nembutal. | |
![]() | ONDCP Street Terms 3: Block busters — Depressants. |
5. (US) an outsize, ultra-powerful firecracker.
![]() | 23rd Precinct 136: The four cops walk to their cars just as a blockbuster goes off down the block. Two times the size of a M-80 firecracker, its power is equivalent to a quarter stick of dynamite. |