bobby

/'bɔbi/

Thân thiện

A bobby helps a lost child find their parents in the park.

Definition

Noun: - An informal term for a British policeman: A friendly, colloquial word for a police officer in the United Kingdom, particularly one on foot patrol. The term originates from Sir Robert Peel, who founded the Metropolitan Police Service in London in 1829.

Usage

• The word "bobby" is used as a common noun to refer to a single police officer. It is informal and often carries a friendly or slightly old-fashioned tone.
• It is typically used in British English contexts.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The friendly bobby helped the tourist find her way.
  • In old films, you often see a bobby walking his beat.

Advanced Usage

• "On the bobby": This is not a standard phrase. The typical phrase is "on the beat," referring to a police officer's regular patrol route, which a bobby would walk.
  • The bobby was on his beat when he noticed the open window.

Variants and Related Words

• Peeler (n): An archaic, historical synonym for "bobby," also derived from Sir Robert Peel.
• Constable (n): The formal rank for a police officer, often part of the term "Police Constable (PC)."

Synonyms

• Police officer: The standard, formal term.
• Constable: A formal term for a police officer of the lowest rank.
• Copper (n, informal): Another informal British term for a police officer.

Related Phrases

• "Bobby on the beat": A phrase emphasizing a police officer patrolling a neighborhood on foot.
  • Residents feel safer with a bobby on the beat.

Related Idioms

• There are no common idioms that use the word "bobby" itself. The term is primarily a standalone noun.

Học thuật

Noun

1. an informal term for a British policeman