bugger
- 01 C1 Advanced
n.a word for a person, often used when you feel sorry for them or like them.
n.a person, typically a male, viewed with a degree of affection, pity, or casual familiarity.
Simple“The poor bugger has been working all weekend to finish the report.”
In context“He is a lucky bugger to have won the lottery twice in one decade.”
UsageOften preceded by an adjective like 'poor', 'lucky', or 'silly'.
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.something that is very difficult, annoying, or hard to deal with.
n.a situation, task, or object that is particularly difficult, aggravating, or troublesome.
Simple“This bolt is a real bugger to get off without the right tool.”
In context“The new software update has been a total bugger to install on the older machines.”
UsageCommonly used in the construction 'a bugger to [verb]'.
- 03 C1 Advanced
n.a rude way to describe someone you think is very bad or annoying.
n.a contemptible or unpleasant person; used as a mild to moderate insult.
Simple“Don't believe a word he says; he's a nasty little bugger.”
In context“The old bugger refused to return the ball when it went over his fence.”
Teacher's tipWhile common in the UK, this can still be considered offensive in formal or polite company.
- 04 C1 Advanced
v.to break something or make it stop working.
v.to damage, ruin, or render something non-functional.
Simple“I think I've buggered the computer by spilling coffee on the keyboard.”
In context“The heavy rain has completely buggered our chances of finishing the roof today.”
UsageOften used in the passive voice or as a past participle adjective ('it's buggered').
- 05 C2 Proficiency
v.a very rude way to say you do not care about something or want it to go away.
v.used to express contemptuous dismissal or total lack of concern for something.
Simple“Bugger the consequences, I'm going to tell him exactly what I think.”
In context“He decided to bugger the diet and ordered a large pizza for himself.”
UsageUsed as an imperative verb followed by a direct object.
- 06 C2 Proficiency
v.to have anal sex with someone.
v.to perform anal intercourse; the legal and technical term for this is buggery.
Simple“The historical text described the laws used to prosecute those who buggered others.”
In context“In many jurisdictions, the specific act of buggering was treated as a distinct criminal offense until recent decades.”
UsageThis is the literal, non-slang meaning and is highly sensitive.
Synonymssodomize
“I’d bugger it up and they’d start laughing.” Then there was the day he landed in trouble with the boss.”
From Middle English bougre (“heretic”), from Old French bougre, from Medieval Latin Bulgarus (“Bulgar”), from Old Church Slavonic блъгаринъ (blŭgarinŭ, “Bulgarian”), used in designation of heretics (especially the Bogomils, who arose around the 10th century AD in the First Bulgarian Empire), to whom various sexual practices such as anal sex were ascribed. Doublet of Bulgar.
From bug (noun) + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.