Word
bummer
Phoneticsbum·mer
US/ˈbəmɝ/
UK/bˈʌmɐ/
Definitions
01a disappointment
n. a situation that is disappointing, annoying, or unfair.
n. a disappointing, unpleasant, or frustrating experience or situation.
“It was a real bummer that the concert was cancelled at the last minute.”
“Missing the final train was a total bummer, especially since it meant paying for an expensive taxi ride home in the rain.”
Informal · Slang
Usage
Often preceded by 'a' or 'a total'.
Teaching tip
While informal, this is very common in spoken English to show sympathy for minor problems.
03a bad drug experience
n. a very bad or scary experience while taking illegal drugs.
n. a dysphoric psychological reaction to a psychedelic drug, characterized by intense fear or paranoia.
“He had a major bummer after taking those pills at the party.”
“The user experienced a severe bummer, suffering from vivid hallucinations that induced a state of prolonged panic.”
Slang · Informal
Usage
Usually refers specifically to hallucinogenic substances.
Teaching tip
This is the original 1960s counter-culture sense; modern usage has mostly shifted to sense 1.
Synonyms
Etymology
From German Bummler (“a drifter, a stroller, a rambler, a loiterer, a laggard”), from bummeln (“loaf, loiter, stroll, ramble”).
From bum (“make unhappy”) + -er (agent noun suffix), originally US drug slang.
From bum (“engage in anal sex”) + -er (agent noun suffix).
From bum + -er (comparative suffix).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/bummer