bother
/'bɔðə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A source of annoyance or trouble: "Bother" refers to something or someone that causes minor trouble, inconvenience, or unhappiness.
- A state of worry or disturbance: "Bother" can also refer to a state of agitation, fuss, or worry.
Verb:
- To cause annoyance or irritation: To disturb or irritate someone, often in a minor way.
- To cause worry or agitation: To make someone feel anxious, nervous, or concerned.
- To take the trouble to do something: To make an effort or concern oneself with a task.
- To intrude upon: To disturb someone, especially by approaching them uninvited.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- The constant noise from the construction site is such a bother. (It is a source of annoyance.)
- He caused quite a bother when he lost his keys. (He caused a fuss or disturbance.)
- It's not worth the bother. (It's not worth the trouble or effort.)
Verb:
- Does the loud music bother you? (Does it annoy or disturb you?)
- Don't let his criticism bother you. (Don't let it worry or upset you.)
- He didn't even bother to reply to the email. (He did not take the trouble to reply.)
- I'm sorry to bother you, but could you help me? (I'm sorry to disturb or intrude on you.)
Advanced Usage
- "Can't be bothered": Used to express a lack of willingness to make the effort to do something.
- I know I should clean my room, but I just can't be bothered.
- "Hot and bothered": An idiom meaning flustered, agitated, or angry.
- He got all hot and bothered when he couldn't find the report.
Variants and Related Words
- Bothersome (adj): Causing annoyance or trouble; irritating.
- The bothersome fly kept buzzing around my head.
- Botheration (n, old-fashioned): Annoyance or trouble (used as an exclamation of mild irritation).
- Botheration! I've locked my keys in the car again.
Synonyms
- Annoy: To cause slight anger or irritation.
- Disturb: To interrupt the peace, quiet, or order of.
- Trouble: To cause inconvenience, worry, or distress.
- Irritate: To provoke impatience, anger, or displeasure.
- Worry: To cause to feel anxious or troubled.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Bother with: To take the trouble to deal with or consider something.
- Don't bother with the details right now; just give me the main idea.
- Bother about (UK English): To worry or be concerned about something.
- Don't bother about me; I'll be fine.
Related Idioms
- "Not bother one's head about": To not worry or concern oneself with something.
- It's not our problem, so let's not bother our heads about it.
- "A spot of bother" (mainly UK): A minor problem or troublesome situation.
- We had a spot of bother with the car on the way here.
Noun
- something or someone that causes trouble; a source of unhappiness
- washing dishes was a nuisance before we got a dish washer
- a bit of a bother
- he's not a friend, he's an infliction
- an angry disturbance
- he didn't want to make a fuss
- they had labor trouble
- a spot of bother
Verb
- make confused or perplexed or puzzled
- make nervous or agitated
- The mere thought of her bothered him and made his heart beat faster
- intrude or enter uninvited
- Don't bother the professor while she is grading term papers
- to cause inconvenience or discomfort to
- Sorry to trouble you, but...
- cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations
- Mosquitoes buzzing in my ear really bothers me
- It irritates me that she never closes the door after she leaves
- take the trouble to do something; concern oneself
- He did not trouble to call his mother on her birthday
- Don't bother, please