# bugger off

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bugger-off
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

a rude way to tell someone to go away or to leave a place. You use this when you are angry and want someone to leave you alone immediately.

For teachers: An intransitive phrasal verb used as a dismissive imperative to command someone to depart. It is characteristic of British English and carries a rude, mildly vulgar tone.

## Examples

- I told the annoying guy to bugger off.
- As soon as the work day ended, he buggered off to the pub without saying goodbye to anyone.
- The protagonist's weary dismissal—a blunt 'bugger off'—encapsulated the growing resentment he felt toward the intrusive authorities monitoring his every move.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He buggered off the room." but "He buggered off." — The verb is intransitive and cannot take a direct object.

## Usage notes

- This is a rude expression used almost exclusively in British English.
- Teaching tip: Teach this alongside 'go away' and 'get lost' to help students understand the spectrum of politeness and regional slang.

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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.