come on like gangbusters

come on like gangbusters

To do something with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. Primarily heard in US. When I presented the case to my students, they came on like gangbusters to try to solve the mystery. Our offense came on like gangbusters and overwhelmed the other team.See also: come, gangbuster, like, on

come on like gangbusters

AMERICAN, INFORMALIf someone comes on like gangbusters, they start to behave very energetically and sometimes aggressively. The Lakers, who struggled early, came on like gangbusters at precisely the right time, which is to say, when the playoffs started.See also: come, gangbuster, like, on

come on like gangbusters

verbSee come on strongSee also: come, gangbuster, like, on

like gangbusters, come on/going

Proceed noisily and vigorously. The term originated in the United States in the 1940s, when Gangbusters was the name of a popular radio program in which the police “busted” (pursued and caught) gangsters. The program was known for its sound effects, especially at the beginning, which featured police sirens, roaring motors, screeching brakes, and the like. This noisy urgency later was transferred to any enterprise.See also: come, going, like, on