bust one's butt

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

bust one's butt (third-person singular simple present busts one's butt, present participle busting one's butt, simple past and past participle busted one's butt or bust one's butt)

1. (slang, idiomatic, somewhat vulgar, Canada, US) To work exceptionally hard.

   I've been busting my butt getting the tent fixed, while you're just sipping cocoa. Give me a hand.

   • 1987 December 13, anonymous author, “Asinine Policy Of Supporting Prisoners”, in Gay Community News, volume 15, number 22, page 4:

     I have several friends who are public defenders. They are competent, hard working attorneys who bust their butts every day to give these people the best defense available at any price.

   • 1995, Jewel, “Who Will Save Your Soul”, in Pieces of You:

     Those flings, those strings you've got to cut / So get out on the streets, girls, and bust your butts

• bust one's ass
• bust one's neck
• sweat blood