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hustle

/ˈhʌsəl/

noun

Meaning

  • A state of busy activity.

  • A propensity to work hard and get things done; ability to hustle.

  • (preceded by definite article) A type of disco dance, commonly danced to the Van McCoy song The Hustle.

  • An activity, such as prostitution or reselling stolen items, that a prisoner uses to earn money in prison.

verb

Meaning

  • To push someone roughly, to crowd, to jostle.

  • To rush or hurry.

    "I'll have to hustle to get there on time."

  • To bundle; to stow something quickly.

  • To con or deceive; especially financially.

    "The guy tried to hustle me into buying into a bogus real estate deal."

  • To play deliberately badly at a game or sport in an attempt to encourage players to challenge.

  • To obtain by illicit or forceful action.

  • To sell sex; to work as a pimp.

  • To be a prostitute, to exchange use of one's body for sexual purposes for money.

  • To dance the hustle, a disco dance.

  • To work.

  • To put a lot of effort into one's work.

Synonyms

sell one's body,
turn tricks,
defraud,
swindle,
fly,
make tracks,
labor,
pimp