noun
bugger
BUH-guh
noun
1
A mild but crude term for a person, often used affectionately or with irritation, especially in British and Australian English.
"The poor little bugger fell asleep before dessert."
"That stubborn old bugger refuses to see a doctor."
intj
1
An exclamation of annoyance or frustration.
""Bugger! I left my keys at the office.""
verb
1
To break, damage, or ruin something.
"He buggered the engine trying to fix it himself."
How to Use Bugger
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA very common, mildly crude British/Australian word — can be an insult, a curse of frustration, or oddly affectionate depending on tone.
When to use it
Considered vulgar/crude in formal contexts, especially in its original sexual sense, but the exclamation and mild-insult uses are common in casual British speech.
Word Forms
buggered past tense, buggers plural, buggers plural, buggers singular
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Etymology
From Old French "bougre," originally meaning "heretic" (a reference to the Bulgarian-linked Bogomil sect), which later took on its cruder, unrelated sexual sense in English.