# bust a cap

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/bust-a-cap
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To fire a weapon; to shoot with a gun.

## Examples

- The criminal threatened to bust a cap if they did not open the safe.
- In the gritty action movie, the hero had to bust a cap to escape the warehouse full of enemies.
- The detective warned his partner that if the suspects were armed, they would not hesitate to bust a cap to protect their illicit operation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.