Home UK English bugger

Meaning of bugger in English:

bugger

Pronunciation /ˈbʌɡə/

Translate bugger into Spanish

noun

  • 1British vulgar slang Used as a term of abuse, typically for a man.

    scoundrel, villain, rogue, rascal, brute, animal, weasel, snake, monster, ogre, wretch, devil, good-for-nothing, reprobate, wrongdoer, evil-doer
    1. 1.1Used as a term of affection or respect, typically grudgingly.
      • ‘I just hope you didn't hurt the poor bugger’
      • ‘all right, let the little buggers come in’
      human being, individual, man, woman, human, being, living soul, soul, mortal, creature, fellow
    2. 1.2An annoyingly awkward thing.
      • ‘muskets are a bugger to load’

  • 2A person who penetrates the anus of someone during sexual intercourse.

verb

[with object]

  • 1British vulgar slang Cause serious harm or damage to.

    1. 1.1Used to express an angry or dismissive attitude to (someone or something)
      • ‘I'm all for living life to the full and bugger the consequences’

  • 2Penetrate the anus of (someone) during sex.

exclamation

vulgar slang British

  • Used to express annoyance or anger.

Phrases

    bugger all
    British vulgar slang

    • Nothing.

    I'm buggered
    British vulgar slang

    • Used to express one's amazement at something.

    bugger me
    British vulgar slang

    • Used to express surprise or amazement.

    I'm buggered if —
    British vulgar slang

    • Used to make the following clause negative.

    not give a bugger
    British vulgar slang

    • Not care in the slightest.

    play silly buggers
    British vulgar slang

    • Act in a foolish way.

Phrasal Verbs

    bugger off
    British vulgar slang

    • usually in imperative Go away.

    bugger about

    • 1British vulgar slang Waste time or act in a stupid way.

      • ‘don't bugger about, this is important’
      1. 1.1bugger about with somethingInterfere or meddle with something.
        • ‘they started buggering about with the scheduling and eventually lost interest’

    • 2bugger someone about, bugger about someoneBritish vulgar slang Cause someone difficulty or inconvenience.

      • ‘I've just landed a new job after being buggered around by my last employer.’
    bugger up
    British vulgar slang

    • bugger something up, bugger up somethingCause serious harm or damage to.

      • ‘they'll probably bugger up the page layout’
      • ‘to stop and help anyone would bugger up their chances of success’

Origin

Middle English (originally denoting a heretic, specifically an Albigensian): 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 century) arose from an association of heresy with forbidden sexual practices; its use as a general insult dates from the early 18th century.