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Phrase(s): split a gut [and] bust a gut
1. Fig. Inf. to laugh very hard. • He laughed until he nearly split a gut. • The clown made me bust a gut laughing. 2. Fig. Inf. to work very hard. • I split a gut to get this place fixed up in a week. • Don’t bust a gut cleaning up for me. I love things that are a bit messy.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs