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gangbuster

gangbuster

2 6.7
A person or thing that is very successful and impressive
  • noun
  • /ˈɡæŋˌbʌstər/
  • Informal
translation icon : éxito rotundo
  • I mean, it's going like gangbusters .
  • going gangbusters
  • comes on like gangbusters
  • gangbuster business

and one of the most read books in the world and selling like gangbusters still is because I am constantly innovating myself.

Examples

  • Turner came in the league like gangbusters and finished his all-too-short NFL career with 36 TDs in four years.

    Blog text (5)

  • After launching their latest product, the company reported it was a gangbuster success in sales.

  • That all sounds like this is a gangbuster market, and it is going to just continue to grow, grow, grow.

    Academic text (1995)

  • I heard your speech went down gangbusters last night.

    Broken City (2013)

  • You two will hit it off like gangbusters.

    Roommates (1995)

  • And then he stopped and everybody laughed... and then two seconds later, he started it again... and everybody came in just "bang," like gangbusters.

    No Direction Home: Bob Dylan (2005)

  • - Um, well I mean I started this app about five years ago and it went gangbusters like on my first year which was awesome and allowed me to support myself, travel the world.

    For Now (2019)

  • Come in like gangbusters.

    The Seven Year Itch (1955)

  • He is the snizzles fizzle and a real gangbuster.

    Blog text (34)

  • The new marketing campaign has been a real gangbuster, attracting more customers than we expected.

Synonyms

hit
vsgangbuster
465 1.3

Something very popular and successful, like a song or show

is the same extreme success but not limited to entertainment
powerhouse
vsgangbuster
57 4.5

A person, team, or organization that is very successful and able to influence others

is extreme success focused on impressiveness rather than power
dinger
vsgangbuster
  • Slang
5 8.6

A person or thing that is unusually good

is stronger extreme success rather than mild or occasional praise
world-beater
vsgangbuster
  • Informal
1 6.9

A person or thing much better than others

is extremely successful or impressive without comparing to others
smasher
vsgangbuster
  • Archaic
1 6.5

A very big success, like a popular film

is general extreme success rather than just a notable hit
megastar
vsgangbuster
3.8

A person or thing that is very famous and successful, often in entertainment

is about extreme success but not limited to public fame
real dambuster
vsgangbuster
  • UK
9.5

A person who has a big success in a difficult situation

is general extreme impressiveness not necessarily from a challenge
whizzer
vsgangbuster
  • Slang
7.3

Something very fast or impressive

is extreme impressiveness without implying speed or quickness

How Successful

blockbuster
81 2.6
gangbuster
  • Informal
2 6.7
hit
465 1.3
minor
600 2.4
flop
44 4.3

Surface Forms

gangbuster singular
gangbusters plural

Morphology

gangbuster = gang + buster (semi-transparent) = gang + buster

The meaning 'extremely successful or impressive' is an extended, evaluative sense derived metaphorically from the agentive compound and is not strictly literal.

Etymology

A helpful way to remember the noun gangbuster is to think of the old radio show 'Gang Busters' that showed big police wins, because the idea moved into everyday speech to mean great force or success. So a gangbuster can be a person or thing that is extremely successful or impressive.