# boogie

/ˈbuɡi/ (US) · /bˈuːɡi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/boogie
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to dance

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to dance to music, usually in an energetic or happy way.

For teachers: to dance in an energetic or rhythmic fashion, typically to pop, rock, or disco music.

- The wedding guests started to boogie as soon as the band played a classic disco song.
- Despite the cramped conditions of the basement club, the crowd continued to boogie with uninhibited enthusiasm until the early hours of the morning.

### 2. to move or leave quickly

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal · American English

to move fast or to leave a place in a hurry.

For teachers: to depart or move at a rapid pace. Intransitive use often found in the phrase 'boogie on out'.

- We should probably boogie if we want to catch the last train home.
- Realising they were nearly twenty minutes late for the reservation, the group decided to boogie across town rather than wait for a taxi.

### 3. nasal mucus

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · British English

a small piece of dried mucus from inside your nose.

For teachers: a piece of dried or semi-solid nasal mucus.

- The little boy didn't realise he had a boogie on his face after playing outside.
- The toddler was blissfully unaware of the boogie clinging to his upper lip as he smiled for the family photograph.

Teaching tip: In American English, 'booger' is the standard informal term for this; 'boogie' is more common in British English.

## Examples

- We boogie all night at the club.
- The band played an upbeat tune, and everyone started to boogie on the dance floor.
- As the tempo increased, the crowd began to boogie with a frenetic energy that seemed to defy the cramped space of the venue.

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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.