or bust UK /ɔː ˈbʌst/US /ɔɹ ˈbʌst/ phrase1 •(informal) Used to indicate one's intention to do everything possible to achieve a goal, with failure being the only alternative.Mr. [William Jennings] Bryan recognizes that he must win New York—"or bust." He went there straight from Des Moines and had a three-hour conference with the local leaders. — 1908