"bust a move" meaning in English

See bust a move in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Verb

IPA: /ˈbʌst ə ˈmuːv/ Audio: en-au-bust a move.ogg [Australia] Forms: busts a move [present, singular, third-person], busting a move [participle, present], busted a move [participle, past], busted a move [past], bust a move [participle, past], bust a move [past]
Rhymes: -uːv Etymology: Ellipsis of bust out a move (“break out a move”), in reference to unveiling or demonstrating a move from one's repertoire of dance moves. The original usage of this phrase is "to dance." The term appeared in the 1986 song “Posse in Effect” by Beastie Boys, in which M.C.A. said “Pay attention, my intention is to bust a move.” It was then popularized in the 1989 single of the same name by rapper Young MC, who tells (in the song) of his several attempts to find (or seduce) a woman in various places and failing to be able to do so because he can't dance; he isn't able to "bust a move." Etymology templates: {{ellipsis|en|bust out a move|t=break out a move}} Ellipsis of bust out a move (“break out a move”) Head templates: {{en-verb|*|past2=~}} bust a move (third-person singular simple present busts a move, present participle busting a move, simple past and past participle busted a move or bust a move)
  1. (African-American Vernacular, idiomatic, transitive) To dance. Tags: idiomatic, transitive Categories (topical): Dance Synonyms: cut a rug
    Sense id: en-bust_a_move-en-verb-hRBqq8xf Disambiguation of Dance: 91 9 Categories (other): African-American Vernacular English, English entries with incorrect language header, English entries with language name categories using raw markup, English entries with topic categories using raw markup, English predicates, English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 58 42 Disambiguation of English entries with language name categories using raw markup: 73 27 Disambiguation of English entries with topic categories using raw markup: 63 37 Disambiguation of English predicates: 78 22 Disambiguation of English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys: 64 36
  2. (African-American Vernacular, idiomatic, transitive) To initiate an action, such as a departure, attack, etc. Tags: idiomatic, transitive Synonyms: get in gear, hit the road, make a move
    Sense id: en-bust_a_move-en-verb-Pue5oLvp Categories (other): African-American Vernacular English

Inflected forms

Download JSON data for bust a move meaning in English (4.3kB)

{
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "bust out a move",
        "t": "break out a move"
      },
      "expansion": "Ellipsis of bust out a move (“break out a move”)",
      "name": "ellipsis"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Ellipsis of bust out a move (“break out a move”), in reference to unveiling or demonstrating a move from one's repertoire of dance moves.\nThe original usage of this phrase is \"to dance.\" The term appeared in the 1986 song “Posse in Effect” by Beastie Boys, in which M.C.A. said “Pay attention, my intention is to bust a move.” It was then popularized in the 1989 single of the same name by rapper Young MC, who tells (in the song) of his several attempts to find (or seduce) a woman in various places and failing to be able to do so because he can't dance; he isn't able to \"bust a move.\"",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "busts a move",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
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    },
    {
      "form": "busting a move",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "busted a move",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "busted a move",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "bust a move",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "bust a move",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "*",
        "past2": "~"
      },
      "expansion": "bust a move (third-person singular simple present busts a move, present participle busting a move, simple past and past participle busted a move or bust a move)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "African-American Vernacular English",
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        },
        {
          "_dis": "58 42",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
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          "source": "w+disamb"
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          "kind": "other",
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          "source": "w+disamb"
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        {
          "_dis": "78 22",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English predicates",
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          "source": "w+disamb"
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        {
          "_dis": "64 36",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
          "parents": [
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          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "91 9",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Dance",
          "orig": "en:Dance",
          "parents": [
            "Art",
            "Recreation",
            "Culture",
            "Human activity",
            "Society",
            "Human behaviour",
            "All topics",
            "Human",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Damn, see that guy on the dance floor? He can bust a move!",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To dance."
      ],
      "id": "en-bust_a_move-en-verb-hRBqq8xf",
      "links": [
        [
          "dance",
          "dance"
        ]
      ],
      "qualifier": "African-American Vernacular",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(African-American Vernacular, idiomatic, transitive) To dance."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "cut a rug"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "idiomatic",
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "African-American Vernacular English",
          "parents": [],
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        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "It's time to go. Let's bust a move.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "text": "What you looking at me like that for? C'mon man, bust a move if you're feeling froggy.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To initiate an action, such as a departure, attack, etc."
      ],
      "id": "en-bust_a_move-en-verb-Pue5oLvp",
      "links": [
        [
          "initiate",
          "initiate"
        ],
        [
          "action",
          "action"
        ]
      ],
      "qualifier": "African-American Vernacular",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(African-American Vernacular, idiomatic, transitive) To initiate an action, such as a departure, attack, etc."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "get in gear"
        },
        {
          "word": "hit the road"
        },
        {
          "word": "make a move"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "idiomatic",
        "transitive"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈbʌst ə ˈmuːv/"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-uːv"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-au-bust a move.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/d/d4/En-au-bust_a_move.ogg/En-au-bust_a_move.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/En-au-bust_a_move.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "Australia"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (AU)"
    }
  ],
  "wikipedia": [
    "Beastie Boys",
    "Young MC"
  ],
  "word": "bust a move"
}
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    "English predicates",
    "English terms with IPA pronunciation",
    "English terms with audio links",
    "English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
    "English verbs",
    "Rhymes:English/uːv",
    "en:Dance"
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  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "bust out a move",
        "t": "break out a move"
      },
      "expansion": "Ellipsis of bust out a move (“break out a move”)",
      "name": "ellipsis"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Ellipsis of bust out a move (“break out a move”), in reference to unveiling or demonstrating a move from one's repertoire of dance moves.\nThe original usage of this phrase is \"to dance.\" The term appeared in the 1986 song “Posse in Effect” by Beastie Boys, in which M.C.A. said “Pay attention, my intention is to bust a move.” It was then popularized in the 1989 single of the same name by rapper Young MC, who tells (in the song) of his several attempts to find (or seduce) a woman in various places and failing to be able to do so because he can't dance; he isn't able to \"bust a move.\"",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "busts a move",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "busting a move",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "busted a move",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "busted a move",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "bust a move",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "bust a move",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "*",
        "past2": "~"
      },
      "expansion": "bust a move (third-person singular simple present busts a move, present participle busting a move, simple past and past participle busted a move or bust a move)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "African-American Vernacular English",
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        "English terms with usage examples",
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      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Damn, see that guy on the dance floor? He can bust a move!",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To dance."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "dance",
          "dance"
        ]
      ],
      "qualifier": "African-American Vernacular",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(African-American Vernacular, idiomatic, transitive) To dance."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "cut a rug"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "idiomatic",
        "transitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "African-American Vernacular English",
        "English idioms",
        "English terms with usage examples",
        "English transitive verbs"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "It's time to go. Let's bust a move.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "text": "What you looking at me like that for? C'mon man, bust a move if you're feeling froggy.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To initiate an action, such as a departure, attack, etc."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "initiate",
          "initiate"
        ],
        [
          "action",
          "action"
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      ],
      "qualifier": "African-American Vernacular",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(African-American Vernacular, idiomatic, transitive) To initiate an action, such as a departure, attack, etc."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "get in gear"
        },
        {
          "word": "hit the road"
        },
        {
          "word": "make a move"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "idiomatic",
        "transitive"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈbʌst ə ˈmuːv/"
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-uːv"
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-au-bust a move.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/d/d4/En-au-bust_a_move.ogg/En-au-bust_a_move.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/En-au-bust_a_move.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "Australia"
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      "text": "Audio (AU)"
    }
  ],
  "wikipedia": [
    "Beastie Boys",
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  ],
  "word": "bust a move"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-05-05 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-05-02 using wiktextract (f4fd8c9 and c9440ce). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.