hustle

[huhs-uhl]

verb (used without object)

hustled, hustling 

1. to proceed or work rapidly or energetically.

   The sisters hustled about, putting the house in order.

2. to push or force one's way; jostle or shove.

3. to be aggressive, especially in business or other financial dealings.

4. Slang.,  to earn one's living by illicit or unethical means.

5. Slang.,  (of a prostitute) to solicit clients.

verb (used with object)

hustled, hustling 

1. to convey or cause to move, especially to leave, roughly or hurriedly.

   His bodyguards hustled him out of the court past policemen and paramilitary soldiers.

2. to urge, prod, or speed up.

   Hustle your work along.

3. to pressure or coerce (a person) to buy or do something.

   Our waiter hustled us into ordering more than we could eat.

4. to obtain by aggressive and often illicit means.

   He could always hustle a buck or two from some sucker.

5. to beg; solicit.

6. to sell in or work (an area), especially by high-pressure tactics.

   The souvenir vendors began hustling the town at dawn.

7. to sell, promote, or publicize in a lively, vigorous, or aggressive manner.

   to hustle souvenirs.

8. to jostle, push, or shove roughly.

9. Slang.,  to induce (someone) to gamble or to promote (a gambling game) when the odds of winning are overwhelmingly in one's own favor.

10. Slang.,  to cheat; swindle.

    They hustled him out of his savings.

11. Slang.

    1. (of a prostitute) to solicit (someone).

    2. to attempt to persuade (someone) to have sexual relations.

noun

1. energetic activity, as in work.

2. discourteous shoving, pushing, or jostling.

3. Slang.

   1. an inducing by fraud, pressure, or deception, especially of inexperienced or uninformed persons, to buy something, participate in an illicit scheme or dishonest gambling game, etc.

   2. such a product, scheme, gambling game, etc.

4. Slang.,  a competitive struggle.

   Why not take a break from the hustle to find a place where the tranquility of nature frees your mind to do its most innovative thinking.

5. Slang.,  any means of earning a living; a paid job or occupation.

   The university denied him tenure, so I guess he has to find a new hustle.

6. a fast, lively, popular ballroom dance evolving from Latin American, swing, rock, and disco dance styles, with a strong basic rhythm and simple step pattern augmented by strenuous turns, breaks, etc.

hustle

/ ˈhʌsəl /

verb

1. to shove or crowd (someone) roughly

2. to move or cause to move hurriedly or furtively

   he hustled her out of sight

3. (tr) to deal with or cause to proceed hurriedly

   to hustle legislation through

4. slang,  to earn or obtain (something) forcefully

5. slang,  (of procurers and prostitutes) to solicit

noun

1. an instance of hustling

2. undue activity

3. a disco dance of the 1970s

Other Word Forms

• hustler noun
• outhustle verb (used with object)
• unhustled adjective
• unhustling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hustle¹

First recorded in 1675–85; from Dutch husselen, hutselen “to shake, toss,” equivalent to hutsen “to shake” + -el- frequentative suffix; -le

Word History and Origins

Origin of hustle¹

C17: from Dutch husselen to shake, from Middle Dutch hutsen

Example Sentences

“You have to hustle to make it as a writer,” Gay observes when asked to reflect on the obstacles she and others in their profession face.

From Los Angeles Times

“I think it’s going to be really inspiring for the community at large when they’re driving down Mendocino Avenue to see some hustle and bustle and really positive activity going on,” Stokes said.

From Los Angeles Times

Once, he even called out a Reds player’s lack of hustle on the basepaths — and ended up stuffed in a garbage can.

From Los Angeles Times

She allowed her targets to put their trust in her so she could exploit them for the benefit of the man for whom she’s hustling.

From Salon

The acting itself, the business of it is a grind, and then New York City is a hustle.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• rush