ENGLISH
REFERENCE

BMW

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈbiˌɛmˈdəbəɫju// bmw Slang

n. a person who complains or talks too much about their problems. It is a funny, informal way to describe someone who is always unhappy.

n. an individual who habitually complains or expresses dissatisfaction. An informal acronym for 'Bitch, Moan, and Whine', typically used in colloquial or workplace registers to describe a person perceived as excessively negative.


SIMPLE

Don't be such a BMW and just finish the work.

CONTEXTUAL

The office manager is a total BMW who spends more time complaining about the coffee than actually doing her job.

COMPLEX

While his technical skills were undeniable, his reputation as a BMW made him a difficult fit for the collaborative and high-pressure environment of the startup.

Origin

Borrowed from German BMW.

Usage

Used as a derogatory or humorous label for a person; usually preceded by the indefinite article 'a'.

© 2026 English Reference