bust a move
(African American Vernacular English, idiomatic, transitive) To dance.
Etymology timeline
Born ~1986 · 1 year of recorded useSeen in the wild
Upon realizing that they are currently invincible, Margaret Lamere decides to aggressively bust a move.
Or what? Trump is "gonna bust a move on them"? This entire administration is so corny.
'I’m on fire, and now I think I’m ready to bust a move.' ~ Geordi La Forge
Upon realizing that they are currently invincible, Patate Douce decides to aggressively bust a move.
Upon realizing that they are currently invincible, Jestful decides to aggressively bust a move.
Definitions
(African American Vernacular English, idiomatic, transitive) To dance.
Damn, see that guy on the dance floor? He can bust a move!
Comments
(African American Vernacular English, idiomatic, transitive) To initiate an action, such as a departure, attack, etc.
It's time to go. Let's bust a move.
“Upon realizing that they are currently invincible, Margaret Lamere decides to aggressively bust a move.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Or what? Trump is "gonna bust a move on them"? This entire administration is so corny.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“'I’m on fire, and now I think I’m ready to bust a move.' ~ Geordi La Forge”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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🎤About Black culture & AAVE slang
Slang from Black American Vernacular English (AAVE), hip-hop, drag and ballroom culture, the Caribbean, and NYC street vocabulary. The single largest source of new mainstream English slang in living memory.
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Related terms
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Semantically related
- break it down73%
(US, slang) To dance, especially in a hip hop style.
- buck dance72%
(dance, AAVE) To dance in a particular style of African American traditional clogging.
- bust up70%
(slang, AAVE) To shoot (someone).
- bust on70%
(US, slang, AAVE) To hit or attack (someone); to insult (someone); to snitch on (someone).