bother
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Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
bother
- /ˈbɔðə(ɹ)/ Australia
- /ˈbɒðə(ɹ)/ UK
- /ˈbɑðɚ/ US
Rhymes with -ɒðə(ɹ), (father-bother merger) -ɑːðə(ɹ)
Where it comes from
Borrowed from Scots bauther, bather (“to bother”). Origin unknown. Perhaps related to Scots pother (“to make a stir or commotion, bustle”), also of unknown origin. Compare English pother (“to poke, prod”), variant of potter (“to poke”). More at potter. Perhaps related to Irish bodhaire (“noise”), Irish bodhraim (“to deafen, annoy”).
verb bothers · bothering · bothered
- To annoy, to disturb, to irritate; to be troublesome to, to make trouble for. Would it bother you if I smoked?
- Damn; curse.
- To feel care or concern; to burden or inconvenience oneself out of concern. I never bother about such trivialities.
- To take the trouble, to trouble oneself (to do something). Why do I even bother to try?
- To do something which is of negligible inconvenience. You didn’t even bother to close the door.
noun bothers
- Fuss, ado. There was a bit of bother at the hairdresser's when they couldn't find my appointment in the book.
- Trouble, inconvenience. Yes, I can do that for you—it’s no bother.
interjection bother!
- A mild expression of annoyance. She flung off her sealskin paletot and the beautiful felt hat, not heeding that they rolled off the untidy bed upon the floor. / “Sarah,” whispered Mrs. Malone, “what you goin’ to do? Look at your elegant clothes on the floor.” / “Oh, bother!” retorted Sarah.
