English Reference
Idiom idiom

bum's rush


The forcible ejection of someone, such as a bum or a hobo, from an establishment.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

The bouncer gave the loud man the bum's rush.

CONTEXTUAL

After the customer started a fight in the bar, the manager gave him the bum's rush.

COMPLEX

The security guards were instructed to give the bum's rush to anyone attempting to disrupt the private gala without an invitation.


first recorded 20th c.

* First use appears c. 1911. See cite below. * Although Baumes law has been suggested as the origin, bum's rush was in use more than a decade before that law was passed.


Related idioms7entries
  1. 01

    adrenaline rush

    An event or activity which causes such a state.

  2. 02

    bum rap

    An undeservedly unfavorable portrayal or reputation.

  3. 03

    bum rush

    A storming into an establishment.

  4. 04

    bum steer

    Bad advice or information, regardless of intention.

  5. 05

    corporate welfare bum

    A business corporation or business executive receiving significant financial assistance from government sources.

  6. 06

    rush hour

    The times of the day when traffic jams are commonplace, due mainly to people commuting to or from work.

  7. 07

    rush in

    To act quickly and without due thought

Last updated August 10, 2026