Definition

1. Noun:

   • A person who habitually seeks to harm, intimidate, or coerce those they perceive as vulnerable: A "bully" is someone who uses strength or power to hurt or frighten weaker people, often repeatedly.
   • A hired ruffian or thug: Historically, "bully" could refer to a person paid to use violence or intimidation.

2. Verb:

   • To use superior strength or influence to intimidate or harm someone, typically to force them to do something: The action of treating someone abusively or threateningly.
   • To act in a domineering, cruel, or threatening manner towards someone.

3. Adjective (informal, chiefly North American, dated):

   • Excellent, first-rate, admirable: An informal and somewhat old-fashioned use meaning something is very good.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The school has a strict policy against any student who acts as a bully.
  • He was nothing but a hired bully, doing the dirty work for the local gang.

• Verb:

  • The older children would often bully the younger ones into giving up their lunch money.
  • She felt her boss was trying to bully her into working overtime.

• Adjective:

  • He did a bully job organizing the event. (Informal/dated)
  • That's a bully idea! (Informal/dated)

Advanced Usage

• "To bully someone into something": To coerce or pressure someone into doing something through intimidation.

  • They tried to bully him into signing the contract.

• "Bully pulpit": A public office or position of authority that provides its occupant with an outstanding opportunity to speak out on any issue. (Note: This is a compound term where "bully" uses the old adjective meaning "excellent").

  • The presidency is often called the world's most powerful bully pulpit.

Variants and Related Words

• Bullying (n/adj): The behavior of a bully; characterized by bullying.

  • The company has a zero-tolerance policy for workplace bullying.

• Bullyboy (n): A rough or violent person, especially a hired one.

  • The politician was surrounded by bullyboys.

Synonyms

• Noun (person): Tormentor, persecutor, oppressor, thug, ruffian.
• Verb (action): Intimidate, harass, torment, browbeat, coerce, domineer.
• Adjective (excellent): Superb, splendid, capital (all informal/dated).

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

• Bully off (Sports, chiefly Field Hockey): To start or restart the game by two opponents tapping their sticks together three times before trying to hit the ball.
  • The center forwards prepare to bully off.

Related Idioms

• "Bully for you/him/them!" (Interjection, often ironic): An expression used to say "good for you," but it can be used sincerely or sarcastically to mock someone's perceived self-satisfaction.

  • You finished your homework? Well, bully for you!

• "To play the bully": To act like a bully.

  • He's not a leader; he just likes to play the bully.

Adjective

1. very good
   • he did a bully job
   • a neat sports car
   • had a great time at the party
   • you look simply smashing

Noun

1. a hired thug
2. a cruel and brutal fellow

Verb

1. discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner; intimidate
2. be bossy towards
   • Her big brother always bullied her when she was young