Definition

1. Verb:
   • To bulge outward or protrude: To swell or stick out suddenly, often in a rounded shape.
   • To leave or depart hastily, especially in alarm: To retreat or exit a place quickly, often due to fear or a sudden emergency. (This is a separate, idiomatic meaning).

Usage and Examples

• Verb (to bulge):

  • The frog's eyes bugged out when it saw the predator.
  • The old balloon bugged out in strange places before it popped.

• Verb (to depart hastily):

  • When the fire alarm sounded, we all bugged out of the building.
  • The soldiers were ordered to bug out before the enemy arrived.

Advanced Usage

• "to bug out on someone": To abandon or leave someone suddenly, often leaving them in a difficult situation.
  • He promised to help, but he bugged out on us at the last minute.

Variants and Related Words

• Bug-eyed (adj): Having eyes that are bulging or wide open, especially from surprise or fear.
  • The bug-eyed child stared at the magician.

Synonyms

• Bulge: To swell or curve outward.
• Protrude: To extend beyond or above a surface.
• Flee: To run away from danger.
• Scram: To leave a place quickly (informal).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Bug off: An informal, often rude, command telling someone to go away.
  • He told the annoying salesman to bug off.

Related Idioms

• Make one's eyes bug out: To cause someone to stare in wide-eyed surprise or astonishment.
  • The size of the diamond was enough to make anyone's eyes bug out.

Verb

1. bulge outward
   • His eyes popped