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Like Gangbusters
This is what I hope will be a series of short articles on idioms. Every now and then I hear one of these expressions and wonder how it all got started. I’ll try to provide a little enlightenment on this intriguing (to me) subject.
The first one I’ll explore is: like gangbusters.
Most people have probably heard this phrase at some point in their life, though it doesn’t seem to be used as much anymore. It all started because of a radio show that aired from 1936 until 1957 called Gang Busters. I’ve read the show was originally called G-Men when it first came out in 1935 and its name was changed the following year. This show started with a cacophony of sirens, tires screeching, police whistles, and machine gun fire. Apparently, the stories were pulled from FBI cases with approval of former director J. Edgar Hoover.
This dramatic beginning led to the expression, usually used as “coming on like gangbusters.” It was originally meant to describe something starting up with a lot of excitement and strong action. Over the years, it became a way to describe any vigorous effort, not just an initial furious burst of activity.
I would imagine the number of people alive today would have listened to the original radio program is fairly small — and dwindling. They would have to be over sixty years old to have heard the last show, even as a child. There are a few episodes posted on the internet, if you’re interested. But the expression has lived on, though it, too, is fading. And those who understand the meaning may not know the origin of the colorful phrase.
These days, you’ll mostly hear it in old movies or read it in stories written in the previous century. Today, there are other expressions people use to similarly describe intense, exciting action. Although it is also old, “to beat the band,” might be one. But that would be the story for another time!
Note: The image used here is by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay.
