busting ass
Giving maximum effort
Busting ass means working extremely hard, putting in intense physical or mental effort: We've been busting ass all week to meet the deadline.
The phrase suggests grueling, exhausting labor rather than mere diligence.
In another sense, to bust someone's ass is to criticize or punish them harshly: The coach busted our asses after that loss.
- diligenceCareful, persistent effort
- sweat equityUnpaid work as investment
- ambitionDesire for achievement
- toilStrenuous, prolonged effort
- nose to the grindstoneDevoted to hard work
perseverance · exertion · burning the midnight oil · industriousness · determination · hustle · working overtime · tenacity · slog · grind · blood sweat and tears · elbow grease · grit · labor · long hours · focus · urgency · productivity
busting assslacking off
Neglecting responsibilities deliberately
loafing · lazing around · coasting · goofing off · phoning it in
busting asswasting time
Unproductive use of hours
dragging one's feet · procrastinating · dawdling · killing time · dilly-dallying