ˈbust-up BrE AmE noun [countable] informal
1 . the end of a relationship
bust-up of
the bust-up of their marriage
⇨ bust up at ↑ bust 1
2 . British English a very bad quarrel or fight:
Cathy and I had a real bust-up yesterday.
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THESAURUS
▪ argument a situation in which people speak angrily to each other because they disagree about something:
an argument between two drivers over who had right of way
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A 29-year-old man was shot and killed today after an argument over a gambling debt.
▪ row British English , fight especially American English a loud angry argument with someone, especially your boyfriend, girlfriend, or someone in your family. Row is also used about a serious disagreement between politicians about important public issues:
There were always fights between my parents.
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the continuing row over tax increases
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A few months ago they had a big row, and Steve drove off and spent the weekend in London.
▪ disagreement a situation in which people disagree with each other, but without shouting or getting angry:
There were the occasional disagreements about money, but mostly we got on well.
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Ginny had left the company after a disagreement with her boss.
▪ quarrel especially British English an argument, especially one in which people get angry and that lasts a long time. Quarrel sounds more formal and more serious than argument or row :
a bitter family quarrel
▪ feud /fjuːd/ a very bitter argument between two groups, especially families, which lasts for many years and causes people to hate each other:
The feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys raged for 20 years.
▪ dispute a public or legal argument about something, especially one which continues for a long time:
Morris has been involved in a long legal dispute with his publisher.
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The settlement will resolve a long-running dispute over the country’s nuclear program.
▪ war/battle of words an argument in which two people or groups criticize each other continuously in public:
The war of words over construction delays at the airport has erupted again.
▪ bust-up British English informal a very bad argument, especially one in which people decide to separate from each other:
He had a bust-up with the team manager.
▪ shouting match an angry argument in which people shout at each other:
He got into a shouting match with another driver.
▪ slanging match British English informal an argument in which people insult each other:
He was sacked after a slanging match with a colleague.