gangbuster

[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.
Origin
1935-40; gang1 + buster
Slang definitions & phrases for like gangbusters

like gangbusters

adverb phrase

Very energetically and successfully: Everyone knows I'm getting into your pants like gangbusters/ The rest of the year the economy will be going like gangbusters (1942+)

Related Terms

come on like gangbusters


Idioms and Phrases with like gangbusters

like gangbusters

Energetically, forcefully, loudly. For example, This is a soft passage—the horns shouldn't come in like gangbusters. This expression alludes to a popular radio series entitled Gangbusters, which featured explosive sound effects, such as gunfire and sirens, at the beginning of each episode. [ ; late 1930s ]