/ ˈbʌgə(r); NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun ( BrE , taboo , slang )
1.
an offensive word used to insult sb, especially a man, and to show anger or dislike :
Come here, you little bugger!
You stupid bugger! You could have run me over!
2.
used to refer to a person, especially a man, that you like or feel sympathy for :
Poor bugger! His wife left him last week.
He's a tough old bugger.
3.
a thing that is difficult or causes problems :
This door's a bugger to open.
Question 6 is a real bugger.
•
IDIOMS
see silly adjective
■ verb
1.
( BrE , taboo , slang ) used as a swear word when sb is annoyed about sth or to show that they do not care about sth at all : [ v ]
Bugger! I've left my keys at home.
[ vn ]
Bugger it! I've burnt the toast.
Oh, bugger the cost! Let's get it anyway.
2.
[ vn ] ( BrE , taboo , slang ) to break or ruin sth :
I think I've buggered the computer.
3.
[ vn ] ( taboo or law ) to have anal sex with sb
•
IDIOMS
- bugger me
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- bugger about / around
- bugger sb about / around
- bugger off
- bugger sth up
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (originally denoting a heretic): from Middle Dutch , from Old French bougre heretic, from medieval Latin Bulgarus Bulgarian, particularly one belonging to the Orthodox Church and therefore regarded as a heretic by the Roman Church. The sense sodomite (16th cent.) arose from an association of heresy with forbidden sexual practices; its use as a general insult dates from the early 18th cent.