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Glite Dictionary
to bust my chops

to bust my chops

7 9.3
To tease or criticize someone in a friendly way
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : molestar
  • Every time we play cards, he finds a way to bust my chops over the smallest mistakes.
  • quit busting my chops
  • bust my chops, wise guy
  • just busting my chops

Examples

Synonyms

to tease
vsto bust my chops
245 1.9

To make fun of someone in a way that annoys them

adds a stronger sense of criticism or nagging over simple mocking
to poke fun
vsto bust my chops
  • Offensive
25 3.9

To make jokes about someone to make them look silly

is typically more persistent and may include criticism as well
to poke fun at
vsto bust my chops
  • Offensive
23 3.4

To make jokes about someone, sometimes to be playful and sometimes to be unkind

is more focused on repeated teasing or nagging than single mocking jokes
to needle
vsto bust my chops
8 7.7

To annoy someone by teasing them repeatedly

is similar but leans more to playful annoyance than deliberate provocation
to razz
vsto bust my chops
  • Informal
5 9.1

To tease someone in a playful or annoying way

is the same playful annoyance but may sound more personal or direct
to rib
vsto bust my chops
  • Informal
2 3.8

To tease someone in a friendly, joking way

can be harsher and more persistent than simple good natured joking
to bust on
vsto bust my chops
  • Informal
1 8.1

To tease someone in a playful way

focuses more on persistent teasing with a lighthearted tone rather than single jests
to rag
vsto bust my chops
  • Informal
1 7.2

To tease someone repeatedly, either playfully or cruelly

is similar but mainly signals lighthearted annoyance, not cruel torment
to bust someone's chops
vsto bust my chops
  • Informal
1 9.0

To tease or nag someone, often in a playful way

is the original informal expression with the same playful persistent teasing
to yank someone's chain
vsto bust my chops
  • Informal
1 8.7

Tease someone to make them react

is similar but stresses ongoing teasing rather than only provoking a response
to razz my berries
vsto bust my chops
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To tease someone in a friendly, playful way

matches this light playful tone but can include firmer criticism
to pull someone's leg
vsto bust my chops
  • Informal
1 4.1

To tell someone something that is not true to make them laugh

relies on ongoing teasing or criticism rather than playful deception
to break someone's chops
vsto bust my chops
  • Archaic
8.7

To tease or nag someone in a way that annoys them

is the same teasing but often with slightly more annoyance implied

Antonyms

compliment
342 1.6

A polite remark that praises someone or something

praise
161 1.0

Words or actions that show admiration for someone

How Teasing

bully
  • Offensive
301 3.2
to pick on
  • Informal
156 3.5
to tease
245 1.9
to bust my chops
  • Informal
7 9.3
to rib
  • Informal
2 3.8
to joke
476 1.0

Surface Forms

bust my chops infinitive
busted my chops past
busted my chops past participle
busting my chops present participle
busts my chops third person singular

Morphology

bust + mine + chop

The idiomatic sense 'to tease or criticize' cannot be predicted from the literal parts: 'bust' (to break), 'my' (possessive), and 'chops' (jaws), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would not reliably infer the meaning. 'Chops' as 'jaw' is informal and uncommon, and 'bust' here is a figurative, culturally specific slang use, making the expression unpredictable and not compositional.

Etymology

Bust my chops may come from old slang where chops meant the jaw or mouth and bust meant to hit. So the image is someone being hit in the mouth, and today the phrase means 'to tease' or 'criticize' someone with words.