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| hus·tle [ húss'l ] |
verb (past and past participle hus·tled, present participle hus·tling, 3rd person present singular hus·tles) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb hurry: to go somewhere or deal with something fast or hurriedly
  We'd better hustle, or we'll be late.
They hustled the legislation through before the recess.
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2. intransitive verb crime engage in small-time illegal deals: to engage in small-time illegal activity such as petty theft or prostitution
(
slang
)
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3. transitive verb sell something aggressively: to sell goods or services using aggressive sales techniques
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4. transitive and intransitive verb crime solicit customers in shady deals: to solicit customers in shady or illegal deals, e.g. as a prostitute
(
slang
)
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5. transitive verb hurry somebody somewhere: to convey somebody roughly or hurriedly to or from a place
hustled her into a waiting car
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6. intransitive verb play sport aggressively: to play a sport with great aggressiveness, intensity, and concentration
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7. transitive verb push somebody: to jostle or push somebody roughly
One hustled me while the other stole my purse.
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8. transitive verb coerce somebody: to put pressure on somebody to do something without due thought
hustled them into the purchase
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noun (plural hus·tles) |
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| Definition: |
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1. noisy activity: lively noisy continual activity
enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the big city
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2. energy and aggression: energetic and aggressive initiative in pursuing personal goals
(
slang
)
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3. crime racket or swindle: an act or scheme involving deceit, swindling, fraud, or petty theft
(
slang
)
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| [Late 17th century. < Dutch hutselen "shake (repeatedly), toss," < hotsen "shake"] |
