# bust chops

idiom

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

## Meaning

To nag; to berate or hound in an effort to elicit action.

## Examples

- Stop busting my chops about the dishes, I will wash them soon.
- My boss keeps busting my chops about the deadline, even though I am working as fast as I can.
- Rather than offering constructive feedback, he spent the entire afternoon busting my chops over minor errors that had no impact on the final result.

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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.