/ ˈbɒðə(r); NAmE ˈbɑːð-/ verb , noun , exclamation
■ verb
1.
(often used in negative sentences and questions) bother (with / about sth) to spend time and/or energy doing sth :
[ v ]
'Shall I wait?' 'No, don't bother'.
It's not worth bothering with (= using) an umbrella—the car's just outside.
I don't know why I bother! Nobody ever listens!
I don't know why you bother with that crowd (= why you spend time with them) .
[ v to inf ]
He didn't even bother to let me know he was coming.
[ v -ing ]
Why bother asking if you're not really interested?
2.
bother sb (about / with sth) to annoy, worry or upset sb; to cause sb trouble or pain :
[ vn ]
The thing that bothers me is ...
You don't sound too bothered about it.
I don't want to bother her with my problems at the moment.
That sprained ankle is still bothering her (= hurting) .
'I'm sorry he was so rude to you.' 'It doesn't bother me.'
[ vn that ]
Does it bother you that she earns more than you?
[ vn to inf ]
It bothers me to think of her alone in that big house.
3.
[ vn ] to interrupt sb; to talk to sb when they do not want to talk to you :
Stop bothering me when I'm working.
Let me know if he bothers you again.
Sorry to bother you , but there's a call for you on line two.
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IDIOMS
- be bothered (about sb/sth)
- can't be bothered (to do sth)
- not bother yourself / your head with / about sth
—more at hot adjective
■ noun
1.
[ U ] trouble or difficulty :
You seem to have got yourself into a spot of bother .
I don't want to put you to any bother (= cause you any trouble) .
Don't go to the bother of tidying up on my account (= don't make the effort to do it) .
'Thanks for your help!' 'It was no bother.'
Call them and save yourself the bother of going round.
2.
a bother [ sing. ] ( BrE ) an annoying situation, thing or person
SYN nuisance :
I hope I haven't been a bother.
■ exclamation
( BrE ) used to express the fact that you are annoyed about sth/sb :
Bother! I've left my wallet at home.
Oh, bother him! He's never around when you need him.
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WORD ORIGIN
late 17th cent. (as a noun in the dialect sense noise, chatter ): of Anglo-Irish origin; probably related to Irish bodhaire noise, bodhraim deafen, annoy. The verb (originally dialect) meant confuse with noise in the early 18th cent.