English Reference
Idiom idiom

bug off

Meaning

Used to tell somebody to leave one alone.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Examples
SIMPLE

“I am trying to work, so please bug off.”

CONTEXTUAL

“The photographer kept following the celebrity, who finally turned around and told him to bug off.”

COMPLEX

“Exasperated by the persistent solicitor at his door, he firmly instructed the man to bug off and leave him in peace.”

Anchors to
Related idioms2entries
  1. 01

    bug storm

    A large number of insects in the air, especially when passed through by a vehicle.

  2. 02

    put a bug in someone's ear

    To make a small suggestion or give a hint that causes the listener to act.

Last updated August 10, 2026