verb past tense of 'bust', meaning to break or damage something
adjective a slang term used to describe something that is broken or damaged
To have a financial transaction fail or be rejected, often due to insufficient funds
To be caught or apprehended by the police for committing a crime
To be exposed or caught in a deceitful or dishonest act
In a professional context, 'busted' can be used to describe a writer who has been caught plagiarizing or fabricating information in their work.
A psychologist may use the term 'busted' when referring to a patient who has been caught lying or manipulating information during a therapy session.
A police officer may use the term 'busted' to describe successfully catching a criminal in the act or solving a case.
A lawyer may use the term 'busted' to describe a witness or defendant being discredited or proven to be lying in court.
An accountant may use the term 'busted' when referring to a client who has been caught committing financial fraud or embezzlement.
A journalist may use the term 'busted' to describe uncovering a scandal or corruption within a government or organization.
A teacher may use the term 'busted' to describe a student who has been caught cheating on a test or plagiarizing a paper.
A chef may use the term 'busted' to describe a colleague who has been caught stealing ingredients or recipes.
A scientist may use the term 'busted' to describe a colleague who has been caught falsifying research data or results.
A doctor may use the term 'busted' to describe a patient who has been caught lying about their symptoms or medical history.