bugbear
See also: bug-bear
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From obsolete meaning of bug (“something terrifying”) + bear.[1][2] See Middle English bugge, modern bogey.
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 360: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "RP" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈbʌɡ.bɛə(ɹ)/, /ˈbʌɡ.bɛː(ɹ)/, enPR: ˈbŭg-bâr
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 360: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "GA" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈbʌɡ.bɛɚ/, enPR: ˈbŭg-bär
Noun
bugbear (plural bugbears)
- An ongoing problem; a recurring obstacle or adversity.
- A source of dread; resentment; or irritation. [from late 16th c.]
- Synonym: pet peeve
- Alexander Pope, Epistle I of the First Book of Horace; to Lord Bolingbroke
- But, to the world no bugbear is so great
- As want of figure and a small estate.
- 1841, Dickens, The Old Curiosity Shop, chapter 3
- What have I done to be made a bugbear of, and to be shunned and dreaded as if I brought the plague?
- (archaic) An imaginary creature meant to inspire fear in children.
- Synonym: goblin
- 1900, Carl Schurz, For Truth, Justice and Liberty:
- The partisans of the Administration object to the word “imperialism,” calling it a mere bugbear having no real existence.
Translations
ongoing problem
|
source of dread, resentment or irritation
imaginary creature
|
See also
Verb
bugbear (third-person singular simple present bugbears, present participle bugbearing, simple past and past participle bugbeared)
- (transitive) To alarm with idle phantoms.
References
- ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “bugbear”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
- ^ “bugbear”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.