belly bust: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1 (Very Low Frequency/Idiomatic)Informal, colloquial, potentially humorous or hyperbolic.
Quick answer
What does “belly bust” mean?
An action or event involving a rupture or tearing of the abdominal region.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An action or event involving a rupture or tearing of the abdominal region; a forceful impact to the stomach.
An extremely funny joke or action that causes uncontrollable laughter, often expressed as "laughing until one's belly (stomach) hurts or bursts."
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties understand the figurative meaning. The structure may be used more as a compound noun or a descriptive phrase in US informal contexts (e.g., "a belly-busting joke").
Connotations
Figurative use is light-hearted and exaggerated. Literal use is violent or comedic slapstick.
Frequency
The figurative idiom is low-frequency in both, but the component words are common.
Grammar
How to Use “belly bust” in a Sentence
[Subject] is a real belly bust.That joke was a belly bust.to give someone a belly bust (literal/rare)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “belly bust” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- That comedian can really belly-bust a crowd.
American English
- His antics are gonna belly bust me!
adjective
British English
- It was a belly-busting performance.
American English
- We saw a belly-bust comedy special.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Informal conversational use for humor (figurative).
Technical
Not used; a medical professional would use terms like 'abdominal rupture'.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “belly bust”
- Using it in formal writing. Confusing it with 'belly button'. Using 'bust' incorrectly as a past tense (busted vs. burst).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, informal idiom. More common equivalents are 'side-splitting' or 'hilarious'.
In very informal, creative usage, it can be used verbally (e.g., 'That joke belly-busted me'), but this is non-standard and rare.
Its primary contemporary meaning is figurative: describing something extremely funny.
No, it is strictly informal and colloquial. It should be avoided in formal contexts.
An action or event involving a rupture or tearing of the abdominal region.
Belly bust is usually informal, colloquial, potentially humorous or hyperbolic. in register.
Belly bust: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbel.i ˌbʌst/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbel.i ˌbʌst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to bust a gut laughing”
- “to split one's sides”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine laughing so hard at a joke that your belly feels like it's going to BUST open.
Conceptual Metaphor
LAUGHTER IS A PHYSICAL FORCE (capable of breaking the body).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'belly bust' MOST likely to be used naturally?