busts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "busts" can be correct and usable in written English, depending on the context.
It can be used in various contexts, such as discussing physical attributes, art, or even in slang referring to breaking or shattering something. Example: "The artist created stunning busts of historical figures that captured their likeness beautifully."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This relationship is also used to stress the importance of developing CIs (confidential informants) rather than relying on aggression and street busts.

The Guardian

Strahan's teeth are a problem for Buswell as he is responsible for building the busts given to NFL players when they are inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Guardian - Sport

That it has become so again busts the central myth of, and moral justification for, capitalism: that wealth is generated by effort, ingenuity, work, wise investment, risk taking etc.

The Guardian - Books

Many, many gold Elvis busts.

The Guardian

Is another round of madness following directly on the heels of the last, or is something else going on?In a new NBER working paper, Edward Glaeser examines America's long history of property booms and busts and reckons that the assumption of irrationality actually fits the data rather poorly.

The Economist

That, in turn, could help prevent government from resorting to "pro-cyclical" fiscal policy, whereby they exacerbate both busts, by slashing spending, and booms, by bingeing.Linking bond payments to GDP should also make a country's debt-to-GDP ratio less prone to sudden jumps, and thus lower the odds of a debt crisis.

The Economist

He pledges to pour revenues into a national fund that will smooth the impact of oil booms and busts on Scotland's economy, and give it cash to invest.

The Economist

A strong bounceback is normal for California; its booms and busts have historically been more extreme than America's.

The Economist

The show features various busts of Akhenaten and Nefertiti, blue-painted ceramics, glass jewellery, Egyptian faience, and artefacts in metal and leather, all alongside books, photographs, newspaper clippings and videos that place everything in context.

The Economist

The farm bill busts the budget and threatens, by itself, to undermine the prospects for concluding a new global trade round all in the interests of doling out huge cheques to American agribusiness.

The Economist

He begins with John Law, whose recommendation that France introduce paper money to pay off the national debt produced a great boom followed by great bust, and then proceeds to trace economists' understanding of cyclical booms and busts from Adam Smith to chaos theory.Pedants will wince at some of his more egregious theoretical simplifications.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing economic cycles, use "busts" to clearly convey periods of downturn or collapse following a boom. This term succinctly captures the severity of the economic reversal.

Common error

Avoid using "busts" solely in the context of financial downturns when describing physical representations like sculptures. Ensure the context clarifies whether you're discussing economics or art to prevent misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "busts" is as a noun, typically used in its plural form. It refers to either a sculptural representation of the upper body or, more abstractly, to periods of economic decline. Ludwig AI provides examples showing both usages.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "busts" functions primarily as a noun, referring either to sculptural representations of the upper body or periods of economic decline. As Ludwig AI indicates, this term is grammatically correct and frequently used, particularly in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts. While "busts" can describe artwork, it most often refers to economic downturns. To avoid confusion, ensure the context clearly indicates whether you are discussing art or economics. Alternatives such as "recessions", "arrests" and "sculptures" can be used for clarity, depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

raids

Focuses on the action of forcefully entering a place, similar to one meaning of "busts".

arrests

Highlights the legal aspect of apprehending individuals, related to police "busts".

market crashes

Specifically refers to sudden and severe drops in market value, a type of "bust".

financial collapses

Describes a complete failure of financial systems, similar to the impact of economic "busts".

economic downturns

Emphasizes the cyclical nature of economic hardship, akin to "busts" in financial contexts.

sculptures

Refers to three-dimensional artwork, resembling the artistic meaning of "busts".

statues

Highlights the representation of figures in art, similar to "busts" as artistic pieces.

figures

Relates to human representations, similar to the artistic representation of "busts".

bosoms

Focuses on the anatomical part of the body, referring to the chest of a woman.

female chests

Refers directly to the mammary glands, similar to the slang use of “busts”.

FAQs

How is "busts" typically used in sentences?

"Busts" can refer to economic downturns, as in "The economy experiences cycles of booms and busts", or to sculptures of the head and shoulders, such as "The museum displayed ancient Roman busts".

What are some alternatives to "busts" when describing economic downturns?

Alternatives include "recessions", "downturns", or "collapses", depending on the severity of the economic situation.

Can "busts" be used in a formal business context?

Yes, "busts" is appropriate in formal business contexts when discussing economic cycles or financial performance. For example: "The company needs to prepare for potential market busts".

How does the meaning of "busts" differ in art versus economics?

In art, "busts" refers to sculptures depicting the head and upper chest. In economics, it describes periods of economic decline following periods of growth. Context is essential to understand the intended meaning.