# hassle

/ˈhæsəɫ/ (US) · /hˈæsəl/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. an annoyance or inconvenience

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a situation that is annoying because it involves too many problems or too much effort.

For teachers: a situation causing inconvenience or annoyance, often involving tedious tasks or bureaucratic obstacles.

- It was such a hassle to get my visa renewed that I almost cancelled the trip.
- The administrative hassle of moving to a new country often outweighs the initial excitement of the professional opportunity.

Usage: Often used with 'too much' or 'a bit of a'.

### 2. an argument

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · British English

a small fight or a loud argument with someone.

For teachers: a heated argument or physical altercation, typically of a minor or repetitive nature.

- I don't want any hassle from the neighbours about the noise.
- The security guards were trained to de-escalate any potential hassle before it turned into a full-scale confrontation.

### 3. to bother someone

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to annoy someone by asking them to do something many times.

For teachers: to harass or pester someone continually, often with requests or demands.

- My boss keeps hassling me about the report even though the deadline is next week.
- Debt collectors began to hassle him with daily phone calls, despite his attempts to negotiate a payment plan.

Usage: Usually takes a direct object representing the person being bothered.

### 4. mock dogfight

verb · CEFR C2 · Slang · Technical

to practice air combat by chasing another plane in a fake fight.

For teachers: to engage in a simulated aerial dogfight for training purposes.

- The pilots spent the afternoon hassling over the desert to improve their skills.
- During the advanced tactical phase, trainees are required to hassle with experienced instructors to master high-G defensive manoeuvres.

Teaching tip: This sense is highly specific to military aviation and rarely understood by the general public.

## Examples

- It is a real hassle to find parking downtown.
- The new security software is such a hassle because it requires a password change every week.
- While the destination was stunning, the bureaucratic hassle of obtaining a visa almost discouraged the travelers from booking the trip entirely.

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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.