ballyrag
/'bæliræg/ Cách viết khác : (bullyrag) /'buliræg/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb: - To treat someone in a domineering, intimidating, or aggressively overbearing manner; to bully or harass someone persistently.
Usage
This verb describes the act of pressuring, tormenting, or bossing someone around, often through verbal abuse, threats, or intimidation. It implies a persistent and unpleasant exertion of power or authority over another person.
Examples
- The older students would often ballyrag the new freshmen, making them run errands.
- He felt his supervisor was constantly trying to ballyrag him into working overtime without pay.
- Stop trying to ballyrag your teammates into agreeing with your plan.
Advanced Usage
- Historical/Archaic Connotation: The word ballyrag is considered somewhat archaic or dated in modern English. It is more commonly found in older literary texts. In contemporary usage, words like , , or are more frequent.
- Nuance of Persistence: The term often carries a nuance of repeated, nagging, or ongoing harassment rather than a single incident.
Variants and Related Words
- Bullyrag (verb): This is a common variant spelling and is synonymous with ballyrag.
- He was known to bullyrag his subordinates when he was in a bad mood.
Synonyms
- Bully: To use superior strength or influence to intimidate someone.
- Browbeat: To intimidate someone into doing something, typically with stern or abusive words.
- Hector: To talk to someone in a bullying way.
- Intimidate: To frighten or overawe someone, especially to make them do what one wants.
Phrasal Verbs
(This word does not commonly form standard phrasal verbs.)
Related Idioms
(There are no common idioms that specifically feature the word ballyrag.)
Verb
- be bossy towards
- Her big brother always bullied her when she was young