we were busted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were busted" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone has been caught doing something wrong or illegal. Example: "After sneaking into the concert without tickets, we were busted by security and had to leave."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Huffington Post

Vice

The Guardian

The New York Times

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

We were busted.

The Guardian

It was not long before we were busted.

The Guardian

Back in the days when we were busted, I had this little Camaro that was my mother's.

The New York Times - Arts

I was living in a forest with a few other kids when we were busted by the People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs.

The Guardian - Arts

We knew we were busted.

Vice

We almost had the cookies in, then we were busted by the Mom.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

"We were busting up".

The New Yorker

"We were busting at the seams," says CFO Cassidy.

Yale University

We were busting it out there and we were definitely guarding them".

The New York Times

"When I was in Iraq, we couldn't see what we were busting into," said Specialist Randall Thompson, who operates the robots.

The New York Times

People went to them and the cathedral shut its doors, and people came to us and we were busting a gut trying to keep everything open.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were busted" in informal contexts to convey a sense of having been caught doing something wrong or mischievous. It adds a colloquial and relatable tone to your narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "we were busted" in formal writing or professional settings. Opt for more formal alternatives like "we were apprehended" or "our actions were discovered" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were busted" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject ('we') was the recipient of an action (being caught). Ludwig AI validates this usage, showing the phrase is typically used in narrative contexts to recount events where individuals were discovered committing a misdeed.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Huffington Post

15%

Vice

10%

Less common in

The Guardian

5%

The New York Times

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we were busted" is an informal expression used to describe a situation where a group of people are caught doing something wrong or against the rules. According to Ludwig AI, its grammatical status is correct, but it's best suited for casual contexts and personal narratives. More formal situations require alternatives like "we were caught" or "we were apprehended". While the phrase appears across various sources, including news outlets, its usage is more prevalent in informal settings. It is important to consider audience and tone before using "we were busted" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we got caught

Simple substitution, emphasizing the act of being caught.

we were nabbed

Informal, similar to 'caught' but with a sense of quick capture.

we were found out

Similar to 'we were discovered', but often implies a secret being revealed.

we were rumbled

Informal, implies being found out after suspicion.

we were apprehended

Formal alternative, implying official capture, often by law enforcement.

we were pinched

British slang for being arrested or caught.

we were discovered

More general, suggesting being found out, not necessarily in a negative context.

we were snared

Suggests being trapped or caught in a deliberate scheme.

we were exposed

Suggests a more public revelation of wrongdoing.

we were taken in

Suggests being deceived or manipulated, leading to being caught.

FAQs

What does "we were busted" mean?

The phrase "we were busted" means that a group of people were caught doing something wrong, illegal, or against the rules. It's an informal way of saying that they were caught in the act or discovered after the fact.

What can I say instead of "we were busted"?

You can use alternatives like "we got caught", "we were apprehended", or "we were discovered" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is "we were busted" grammatically correct?

Yes, "we were busted" is grammatically correct, although it's considered informal. It uses the past tense of the verb 'to be' (were) with the past participle of the verb 'to bust' (busted), indicating a passive voice construction.

When is it appropriate to use "we were busted"?

It's appropriate to use "we were busted" in casual conversations, informal writing, or when recounting a humorous or mischievous event. Avoid using it in formal reports, academic papers, or professional communications.