Gangbusters

[gang-buhs-ter] /ˈgæŋˌbʌs tər/

noun, Informal.
1.
a law-enforcement officer who specializes in breaking up organized crime, often by forceful or sensational means.
2.
someone or something having great impact, usually in a positive way.
3.
gangbusters, an outstandingly successful state or situation:
We aren’t looking for gangbusters, but we’d like you to pass all your subjects this semester.
adjective, Often, gangbusters
4.
of or like a law-enforcement officer who uses rough, aggressive, or sensational tactics in fighting crime:
The undercover agents avoided the gangbusters approach.
5.
strikingly effective or successful:
a gangbusters year for compact cars.
6.
enthusiastic:
I’m not gangbusters over the idea.
Idioms
7.
go gangbusters, to be extremely successful:
The movie went gangbusters.
8.
like gangbusters, with great speed, intensity, vigor, impact, or success:
The software market was growing like gangbusters. The hockey team came on at the beginning of the season like gangbusters.
n.

to come on like gangbusters (c.1940) is from U.S. radio crimefighting drama “Gangbusters” (1937-57) which opened with a cacophony of sirens, screams, shots, and jarring music.

adverb

: The big investigation still going gangbusters?/ Dad is still alive and going great gang-busters

noun

Superlative; very successful: ”Breakfast Time” does that well. I think it’s going to be gangbusters

Related Terms

like gangbusters

[1970s+; fr the name of a radio series that lasted from 1936 to 1957]