hustle
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to work very hard and with a lot of energy to reach a goal.
v.to apply oneself with vigorous effort and initiative toward a professional or personal objective.
Simple“If you want to succeed in this industry, you really have to hustle every day.”
In context“The young entrepreneur had to hustle for three years before her startup finally secured its first round of venture capital funding.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to hurry or move fast because you are in a rush.
v.to move or act with great haste and urgency.
Simple“We need to hustle if we want to catch the last train home.”
In context“The coach screamed at the players to hustle back to their defensive positions after the turnover.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
v.to trick or cheat someone, usually to get their money.
v.to obtain money or advantage from someone through deceit or a fraudulent scheme.
Simple“He tried to hustle the tourists by charging double for the taxi ride.”
In context“The street performer was actually a professional grifter looking to hustle unsuspecting passersby out of their cash.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a lot of busy activity and noise, especially in a city.
n.a state of energetic, busy, and often noisy activity.
Simple“I love the hustle and bustle of the market on Saturday mornings.”
In context“After a decade in the quiet countryside, she found the constant hustle of Manhattan both exhilarating and exhausting.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a job or activity you do to earn extra money, often outside your main job.
n.a person's way of making money, often implying a side business or an unconventional method of income.
Simple“Selling vintage clothes online is her favorite side hustle.”
In context“In today's economy, many young professionals maintain a side hustle to supplement their primary income and pursue creative interests.”
- 06 C1 Advanced
n.a clever or dishonest plan used to cheat someone.
n.a deceptive act or fraudulent scheme designed to illicitly acquire money.
Simple“The police warned people about a new phone hustle targeting the elderly.”
In context“The elaborate hustle involved three different accomplices and a fake investment portfolio designed to look legitimate to auditors.”
“She knew the darker days of side hustles and second jobs.”
From Dutch husselen or by metathesis from Dutch hutselen (“to shake up”), a frequentative of hutsen (“to stir, to move something (back and forth)”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.