# bugger

/ˈbəɡɝ/ (US) · /bˈʌɡɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bugger
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. a person (affectionate or neutral)

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal

a word for a person, often used when you feel sorry for them or like them.

For teachers: a person, typically a male, viewed with a degree of affection, pity, or casual familiarity.

- The poor bugger has been working all weekend to finish the report.
- He is a lucky bugger to have won the lottery twice in one decade.

Usage: Often preceded by an adjective like 'poor', 'lucky', or 'silly'.

### 2. an annoying thing or situation

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal · Slang

something that is very difficult, annoying, or hard to deal with.

For teachers: a situation, task, or object that is particularly difficult, aggravating, or troublesome.

- This bolt is a real bugger to get off without the right tool.
- The new software update has been a total bugger to install on the older machines.

Usage: Commonly used in the construction 'a bugger to [verb]'.

### 3. a despicable person

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Slang · Vulgar

a rude way to describe someone you think is very bad or annoying.

For teachers: a contemptible or unpleasant person; used as a mild to moderate insult.

- Don't believe a word he says; he's a nasty little bugger.
- The old bugger refused to return the ball when it went over his fence.

Teaching tip: While common in the UK, this can still be considered offensive in formal or polite company.

### 4. to break or ruin

verb · CEFR C1 · British English · Slang · Vulgar

to break something or make it stop working.

For teachers: to damage, ruin, or render something non-functional.

- I think I've buggered the computer by spilling coffee on the keyboard.
- The heavy rain has completely buggered our chances of finishing the roof today.

Usage: Often used in the passive voice or as a past participle adjective ('it's buggered').

### 5. to dismiss or ignore

verb · CEFR C2 · British English · Slang · Vulgar

a very rude way to say you do not care about something or want it to go away.

For teachers: used to express contemptuous dismissal or total lack of concern for something.

- Bugger the consequences, I'm going to tell him exactly what I think.
- He decided to bugger the diet and ordered a large pizza for himself.

Usage: Used as an imperative verb followed by a direct object.

### 7. sexual act

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical · Vulgar

to have anal sex with someone.

For teachers: to perform anal intercourse; the legal and technical term for this is buggery.

- The historical text described the laws used to prosecute those who buggered others.
- In many jurisdictions, the specific act of buggering was treated as a distinct criminal offense until recent decades.

Usage: This is the literal, non-slang meaning and is highly sensitive.

## Examples

- What a bugger this weather is.
- I can't find the keys again; this is the third time this week they've been a total bugger.
- The software update was a total bugger, causing the entire server to crash and losing several hours of unsaved work for the development team.

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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.