[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/bugger/)

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# bugger

noun (a bugger, buggers); verb (bugger — rude); exclamation (bugger! — rude)

«bugger» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (rude, UK, Australia, Ireland) A swear word said when something goes wrong ("Bugger! I missed the bus"). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bugger/#m1)
2. (rude) An annoying or difficult person or thing ("This lid is a bugger to open"). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bugger/#m2)
3. (informal, UK, Australia, affectionate) A cheeky person, often a child ("You little bugger!"). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bugger/#m3)
4. (rude, UK) "Bugger off" means go away; "bugger all" means nothing; "bugger up" means spoil. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bugger/#m4)

### In the lessons

Heard in real speech in the UK, Ireland, Australia and NZ as mild-to-strong swearing; children should not use it at school. In stories it shows a character is cross or rough-spoken. In Australia it can sound almost friendly. Phrases: bugger off, bugger all, bugger it, silly bugger, lucky bugger.

### Examples

- "Bugger!" Dad said when he dropped the plate. (rude) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bugger/#x1)
- This jar is a bugger to open. (rude) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bugger/#x2)
- "Bugger off and leave me alone!" the old man shouted. (rude) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bugger/#x3)
- We got bugger all done today. (rude) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bugger/#x4)
- "You cheeky little bugger," Grandad laughed. (affectionate, rude) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bugger/#x5)
- Don't say "bugger" at school; it is a swear word. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bugger/#x6)
- "Lucky bugger won the raffle again," said Uncle Pete. (rude) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bugger/#x7)

### Note

A swear word: rude, especially in formal places; do not use it with teachers. Milder in Australia and New Zealand than in the UK, and rare and odd-sounding in the USA. Polite replacements: "Oh no!", "bother", "darn". Countable: buggers.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «bugger» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bugger/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«bugger» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/bugger.html) on Mova free.