a complete bust

USAGE SUMMARY

"a complete bust" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to describe something that has failed dramatically, such as a business venture, or an event that falls far short of expectations. For example: "The fundraiser was a complete bust; we only made a few hundred dollars."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

("Seinfeld," famously, was a complete bust with focus groups).

The New Yorker

As an electronic device, it should be said, the Kindle is a complete bust.

The New York Times - Magazine

Making the game a complete bust for him offensively were the six missed free throws.

The New York Times - Sports

And the British interpretation of America's favorite home remedy has been a complete bust.

The New York Times - Magazine

Jerry hasn't been a complete bust – he plays with energy and occasionally creates opportunities for others.

The New York Times

Nonetheless, my personal view is that uniforms are a complete bust.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Two were complete busts, and the last was so awful that after failing out of the N.F.L. he ended up failing out of the Canadian Football League as well.

The New Yorker

In 1920, Bogdan-Pitești commissioned Paciurea to complete a portrait bust of Domnica.

Wikipedia

It was opened in 2010, a project commissioned during a boom and completed during a bust.

The Guardian

Mr. Marra has a special passion for American history, having recently completed a bronze bust of William Lee, a slave known as Billy who served as George Washington's valet and was freed by him in his will.

The New York Times

Fifty years after that act of selflessness, Sales will speak about Daniels' legacy on on Sunday, October 11 at the Washington National Cathedral, which just completed a limestone bust of Daniels in August.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a complete bust" to emphasize the totality of a failure, rather than a partial or minor setback.

Common error

While "a complete bust" is widely understood, it can sound too informal for academic papers or business reports. Opt for phrases like "an unmitigated failure" or "a complete lack of success" in professional settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a complete bust" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a predicate nominative or an object complement. As Ludwig AI illustrates, it emphatically describes something that has failed entirely, lacking any redeeming qualities.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Academia

1%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a complete bust" is a commonly used phrase that effectively conveys the idea of a total failure. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and suitability for various contexts, particularly in news and media. While it may be too informal for certain academic or business settings, alternative phrases like "an unmitigated failure" are available. Remember to use it when you want to emphasize the thorough and utter nature of something's failure. The phrase is generally well-understood and frequently used to express disappointment or disapproval.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a total failure

Replaces "complete bust" with a more general term for failure.

a dismal flop

Uses more emphatic terms to highlight the unsuccessful nature.

an utter washout

Emphasizes the lack of positive outcome or success.

a lost cause

Focuses on the futility and lack of hope for improvement.

a fruitless endeavor

Highlights the lack of results despite effort.

a non-starter

Suggests the idea or project was never viable from the beginning.

a dead end

Implies there is no further progress or positive outcome possible.

gone wrong

Describes a situation that started with positive possibilities but failed.

falling flat

Indicates a lack of impact or interest.

up in smoke

Suggests a complete and irretrievable loss.

FAQs

How can I use "a complete bust" in a sentence?

You can use "a complete bust" to describe something that has failed dramatically or fallen far short of expectations. For example, "The new product launch was "a complete bust"; we didn't meet any of our sales targets."

What's a more formal alternative to "a complete bust"?

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "an unmitigated failure" or "a total lack of success" instead of ""a complete bust"".

Is "a complete bust" appropriate for academic writing?

While grammatically correct, ""a complete bust"" might be too informal for academic writing. Opt for more formal synonyms such as "an utter failure" or "a total disappointment".

What is the difference between ""a complete bust"" and "a partial failure"?

"A complete bust" implies a total and utter failure, whereas "a partial failure" suggests that some aspects of the endeavor were unsuccessful, but others may have been successful.