bust chops
Tease someone relentlessly
To bust someone's chops is to tease, criticize, or give them a hard time—usually in a good-natured way among friends, though it can shade into genuine harassment.
The chops are the jaw or mouth area, so the image is of verbal jabs to the face.
My coworkers bust my chops about being a Yankees fan.
Someone who busts their own chops works extremely hard.
- kiddingTeasing playfully
- heckleHarass a performer verbally
- mockScornful imitation or fake
- ribCurved chest bone
- banterPlayful, teasing exchange
raillery · ball-buster · razz · ball-breaker · needle · yank your chain · taunt · snark · wisecrack · poke fun · roast · joking · tease · mess with · wind up · talk trash · repartee · crack wise
bust chopsbuild up
Grow by increments
praise · compliment · encourage · support · lift up
bust chopsease off
Become less intense
lay off · cut some slack · back off · let slide · leave alone
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