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boom
boom or bust
Resulting in an outcome that will either be very good or very bad. Many professional athletes face a boom or bust situation early in their career, where they are either drafted to a professional league or don't advance at all. Working in the oil fields is always boom or bust: there's either lots of work for everyone, or hardly any work for anyone.
boom
An exclamation used in conjunction with a decisive or impressive statement or action. Boom! You can't argue with that logic. Straight flush, I win the pot! Boom.
boom out
[for a loud sound] to sound out like thunder. His voice boomed out such that everyone could hear. An explosion boomed out and frightened us all.
boom something out
[for someone] to say something very loud; to shout. Will someone with a loud voice boom the names out? The announcer boomed out the names of the players.
lower the boom on someone
Fig. to scold or punish someone severely; to crack down on someone; to throw the book at someone. If Bob won't behave better, I'll have to lower the boom on him. The teacher lowered the boom on the whole class for misbehaving.
lower the boom
(American informal) to suddenly stop someone doing something you do not approve of Dad lowered the boom. I have to stay in the next two weekends.
lower the boom on
Scold harshly or punish severely; also, put a stop to something. For example, If you're caught smoking in school, the principal is bound to lower the boom on you, or The new radar equipment enabled the police to lower the boom on speeding. This expression refers to the boom of a sailboat-a long spar that extends from the mast to hold the foot of the sail. In a changing wind, the boom can swing wildly, leaving one at risk of being struck. [Slang; first half of 1900s]
boom out
v.1. To make a loud, deep sound: Rock music suddenly boomed out from the speakers.
2. To say something very loudly: She boomed her speech out to the entire building over the public address system. He boomed out the sermon in his thunderous voice.
ace boom-boom
and ace boon-coon n. one’s good and loyal friend. (Black. Ace boon-coon is not as common as the first entry and is objected to because of coon.) Hey girlfriend, you are my ace boom-boom. Where is my old ace boon-coon, bro?
boom
in. to listen to music, as with a boom box. If you’re going to boom all the time, why don’t you get some headphones?
boom box
n. a portable stereo radio. (see also box, thunderbox.) Turn down that damn boom box, or I’ll kick it in.
boom sticks
n. drumsticks. (Musicians.) He always carries his boom sticks in his back pocket, and he beats on walls, radiators, desks—you name it.