# play silly buggers

idiom · Vulgar

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/play-silly-buggers
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To act in a stupid or reckless manner.

## Examples

- Stop playing silly buggers and finish your work.
- The manager told the team to stop playing silly buggers during the safety briefing.
- Despite the gravity of the situation, the group continued to play silly buggers, much to the frustration of the project lead.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.