What does “stress buster” mean in English?
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B1 English listening practice · American English · Picked for people who know some
English has many common “-buster” compounds, where “-buster” means “something that gets rid of that thing.” A “stress buster” gets rid of stress. A “myth buster” shows that false beliefs are wrong. A “crime buster” fights crime. The word “buster” alone means a person or thing that breaks something apart. Knowing this pattern helps you understand these words — but it is safest to copy common ones like these rather than invent your own.
In the clip, a tech reporter calls a Nintendo Switch gaming console a “stress buster for mom.” The idea is that playing a fun video game helps you relax after a hard day. You can use “-buster” the same way in everyday speech: “That walk was a real stress buster.” “This tea is my morning stress buster.” Notice that “buster” almost always sounds positive — it means something has power over a problem, not just small comfort.
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Source: wordfreq 3.1.1 (general) · SUBTLEX-US 2012 (spoken). These numbers are close, not perfect.