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. [Slang; late 1930s]

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

It worked with Gabin and Tobias, luckily, like gangbusters like right off the bat.

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It’ll play like gangbusters in a crowded theater and you should watch it there to appreciate its excellent use of surround sound.

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The Long Beach port was dedicated in 1911, and like Southern California itself, went like gangbusters.

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After going like gangbusters for years, the Diller-Von Furstenberg relationship faltered in 1981 after she had a “momentary” affair with Richard Gere — something Diller said drew an overreaction from him.

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This went over like gangbusters at its premiere, even as Utah lawmakers spent that week passing anti-trans legislation.

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like fun like greased lightning

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