— VOA Learning English — Words and Their Stories Source: Voice of America Learning English (https://learningenglish.voanews.com/) Licence: Public domain (work of the U.S. federal government, 17 U.S.C. §105) Audio is served by the publisher; Budi does not host or modify it.
0:01And now, words and their stories from VOA Learning English. With a new project, you may want to start with energy and excitement. If that is the case, you could say you want to START like Gangbusters. means you start a project on the right foot, an exciting one. You begin with energy, speed and, sometimes, attention-getting success. Let's hear some examples. She works like gangbusters and gets the job done quickly. The wildflowers are spreading like gang busters. We can use this expression to describe something that starts with a lot of enthusiasm. It can also mean someone or something is having great effect, usually in a good way. Whatever the attempt is, it is successful. To start something ‒like Gangbusters‒ can also means it involves great force or aggressiveness.
1:33For example, the partners worked like gangbusters to open their business before their rivals in the city. Like gangbusters can simply mean something is growing very fast. For example, if the economy is growing like gangbosters, it is growing very fast! Sometimes we add the phrasal verb come on, making the expression to come on like gang busters. The expression to come on like Gang Busters can also mean to work hard and in an energetic forceful When I gave the lesson to my students, they came on like gangbusters to try to solve the mystery. The new employee came on as a gangbuster during her first few months on the job. But why gangbuster? As a noun, gangbuster is a term for a law enforcement officer
2:48who breaks up organized crime. Gangbusters often use forceful or aggressive means. Word experts say the expression ‒like gangbusters’ comes from a popular radio show called ‒Gangbusters, broadcast in the United States from 1935 to 1957. This crime-fighting radio drama started with a lot of noise and excitement. Police sirens, screams, gunfire and exciting music. Gangbuster is also an adjective. It can describe something that is excellent or successful. For example, experts are reporting a gangbusters housing market in rural areas. It can also describe someone who is energetic or eager to do something. For example, if someone asks you to volunteer during the weekend, you can say, I'm not really gangbusters over that idea.
4:00However, this usage is not as common as to come on like gangbangers. And if you do not want to use gangbosters, you could say you started something with a bang. To start or begin something with The singer took a year off, but with her new album, she's back with a bang. And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories. Until next time, I'm Ana Mateo.
This transcript was generated automatically from the recording, so it will contain mistakes — especially around names and places.