bum's rush: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Infrequent / LowSlang, Informal, Old-fashioned
Quick answer
What does “bum's rush” mean?
The act of forcing someone to leave a place, especially a public establishment, quickly and unceremoniously.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of forcing someone to leave a place, especially a public establishment, quickly and unceremoniously.
To reject, dismiss, or eject someone or something hastily and without ceremony; to give a peremptory or abrupt dismissal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term originated in American English and is more commonly encountered in American sources. In British English, similar concepts might use terms like 'being chucked out' or 'given the heave-ho'.
Connotations
In both varieties, it is informal and dated slang. It may evoke a somewhat humorous or nostalgic tone, as it's not typical of modern formal discourse.
Frequency
Much more frequent in American English, though its overall usage has declined since the mid-20th century.
Grammar
How to Use “bum's rush” in a Sentence
[Subject] gave [Object] the bum's rush.[Subject] got the bum's rush (from [Location/Person]).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bum's rush” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The bouncer threatened to bum's rush him if he caused more trouble.
- They were effectively bum's rushed from the premises.
American English
- The manager bum's rushed the noisy patron from the bar.
- His idea got bum's rushed in the first five minutes of the meeting.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; would only be used humorously or metaphorically to describe a sudden rejection of a proposal.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Used informally to describe being thrown out of a bar, club, party, or meeting.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bum's rush”
- Using it in formal writing.
- Confusing it with 'bum rush' (a related but distinct term meaning to charge or storm a place).
- Misspelling as "bums rush" without the apostrophe.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be seen as mildly derogatory because it originally referred to ejecting an undesirable person (a 'bum' or tramp). It's informal slang and should be used with caution.
'Bum's rush' (with apostrophe) is the original idiom meaning to eject someone. 'Bum rush' (without apostrophe) is a later, primarily American slang term meaning to charge or swarm a place aggressively, often used in sports or protest contexts.
Yes, though less common. E.g., 'They bum's rushed him out the back door.' It is often used in the passive voice or as a noun phrase ('get/give the bum's rush').
It is considered old-fashioned, though still understood. More modern equivalents like 'kick out', 'throw out', or 'boot' are more common in casual speech.
The act of forcing someone to leave a place, especially a public establishment, quickly and unceremoniously.
Bum's rush is usually slang, informal, old-fashioned in register.
Bum's rush: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbʌmz ˈrʌʃ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbəmz ˈrʌʃ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “show someone the door”
- “give someone the boot”
- “chuck someone out”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BUM (tramp) being RUSHED out of a fancy restaurant by waiters. The bum gets a RUSH (hasty push) out the door.
Conceptual Metaphor
REJECTION/REJECTION IS FORCIBLE PHYSICAL REMOVAL.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most likely meaning of 'bum's rush' in this context: 'The new policy got the bum's rush from the committee'?