gangbuster
Organized crime fighter
Gangbuster originally meant a law enforcement officer who aggressively pursued organized crime.
The word now appears almost exclusively in the phrase like gangbusters, meaning with great energy, speed, or success: Sales took off like gangbusters.
As an adjective, gangbuster describes something impressively successful or forceful: gangbuster profits, a gangbuster performance.
Civil law enforcement
- detectiveProfessional crime investigator
- arrestSeize by law
- raidSudden armed incursion
- investigationFormal examination of facts
undercover · taskforce · enforcement · sting · informant · crackdown · roundup · takedown
Enormously successful entertainment property
- smash hitOverwhelming popular success
- runaway successOverwhelming, unexpected triumph
- chart-topperSong at position one
- bestsellerHigh-volume publication
record-breaking · phenomenal · spectacular · outstanding · tremendous · knockout · home run · winner
Experiencing rapid growth
- surgingRising with sudden force
- skyrocketingRising sharply and quickly
- explosiveProne to sudden detonation
- acceleratingIncreasing in speed
soaring · burgeoning · snowballing · ballooning · escalating · spiking · meteoric · unstoppable
police
Civil law enforcement
investigation · undercover · taskforce · enforcement · sting · informant · crackdown · roundup · takedown · prosecution
blockbuster
Enormously successful entertainment property
- smash hitOverwhelming popular success
- runaway successOverwhelming, unexpected triumph
- chart-topperSong at position one
bestseller · record-breaking · phenomenal · spectacular · outstanding · tremendous · knockout · home run · winner · triumph
booming
Experiencing rapid growth
- surgingRising with sudden force
- skyrocketingRising sharply and quickly
- explosiveProne to sudden detonation
accelerating · soaring · burgeoning · snowballing · ballooning · escalating · spiking · meteoric · unstoppable · roaring
gangbustermobster
Organized crime member
gangster · crime boss · mafioso · racketeer · criminal
gangbusterflop
Complete commercial failure
dud · bust · failure · fizzle · disappointment
gangbusterdefense attorney
Lawyer representing the accused
consigliere · fixer · crooked cop · dirty cop · bagman
- like gangbustersWith aggressive energy