bother
Also found in: Thesaurus, Idioms.
both·er
(bŏth′ər)v. both·ered, both·er·ing, both·ers
v.tr.
1. To cause to be irritated, especially by repeated acts; trouble or annoy: "I spoke French badly. So I always replied to him in English. This didn't bother him" (Paul Theroux). See Synonyms at annoy.
2. To make agitated or perplexed; upset: "Jerry could see ... how much the doctor had been bothered by the failure of the first surgery" (Rick Bass).
3. To intrude on without warrant or invitation; disturb: "When I saw him slumped in a chair, deep in thought, I decided not to bother him" (Pat Toomay).
4. To give discomfort or pain to: a back condition that bothers her constantly.
5. To take the trouble (to do something); concern oneself with (accomplishing something): "Most people [with the syndrome] have such mild symptoms that they never bother to see a doctor" (Jane E. Brody).
v.intr.
To take trouble; concern oneself: "old, hard-to-reach coal seams that were too complex or dangerous for other coal companies to bother with" (Jeff Goodell).
n.
A cause or state of disturbance.
interj.
Used to express annoyance or mild irritation.
[Probably from dialectal bodder, possibly of Celtic origin.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
bother
(ˈbɒðə)vb
1. (tr) to give annoyance, pain, or trouble to; irritate: his bad leg is bothering him again.
2. (tr) to trouble (a person) by repeatedly disturbing; pester: stop bothering your father!.
3. (intr) to take the time or trouble; concern oneself: don't bother to come with me.
4. (tr) to make (a person) alarmed or confused: the thought of her husband's return clearly bothered her.
n
5. a state of worry, trouble, or confusion
6. a person or thing that causes fuss, trouble, or annoyance
7. informal a disturbance or fight; trouble (esp in the phrase a spot of bother)
interj
chiefly Brit an exclamation of slight annoyance
[C18: perhaps from Irish Gaelic bodhar deaf, vexed; compare Irish Gaelic buairim I vex]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
both•er
(ˈbɒð ər)v.t.
1. to give trouble to; annoy; pester: Noise bothers me.
2. to bewilder; confuse: His inability to get the joke bothered him.
3. to worry; distress: It bothers us that she is so careless.
v.i. 4. to take the trouble; trouble or inconvenience oneself: Don't bother to call.
n. 5. something or someone troublesome or burdensome.
6. effort, work, or worry: Gardening takes more bother than it's worth.
7. a worried or perplexed state: Don't get into such a bother about small matters.
[1710–20; orig. Hiberno-E]
syn: bother, annoy, plague imply persistent interference with one's comfort or peace of mind. To bother is to cause irritation or weariness, esp. by repeated interruptions in the midst of pressing duties: Don't bother me while I'm working. To annoy is to cause mild irritation or mental disturbance, as by repetition of an action that displeases: The dog's constant barking annoyed the neighbors. To plague is to trouble or bother, but usu. connotes severe mental distress: The family was plagued by lack of money.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
bother
Past participle: bothered
Gerund: bothering
| Imperative |
|---|
| bother |
| bother |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  bother - an angry disturbance; "he didn't want to make a fuss"; "they had labor trouble"; "a spot of bother"disturbance, perturbation - activity that is a malfunction, intrusion, or interruption; "the term `distress' connotes some degree of perturbation and emotional upset"; "he looked around for the source of the disturbance"; "there was a disturbance of neural function" |
| 2. |  bother - 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"negative stimulus - a stimulus with undesirable consequences nuisance - (law) a broad legal concept including anything that disturbs the reasonable use of your property or endangers life and health or is offensive plague - an annoyance; "those children are a damn plague" | |
| Verb | 1. |  bother - take the trouble to do something; concern oneself; "He did not trouble to call his mother on her birthday"; "Don't bother, please" |
| 2. |  bother - 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"get under one's skin, get - irritate; "Her childish behavior really get to me"; "His lying really gets me" eat into, rankle, grate, fret - gnaw into; make resentful or angry; "The injustice rankled her"; "his resentment festered" chafe - feel extreme irritation or anger; "He was chafing at her suggestion that he stay at home while she went on a vacation" peeve - cause to be annoyed, irritated, or resentful ruffle - trouble or vex; "ruffle somebody's composure" fret - cause annoyance in beset, chevvy, chevy, chivvy, chivy, harass, harry, hassle, molest, plague, provoke - annoy continually or chronically; "He is known to harry his staff when he is overworked"; "This man harasses his female co-workers" antagonize, antagonise - provoke the hostility of; "Don't antagonize your boss" displease - give displeasure to | |
| 3. |  bother - to cause inconvenience or discomfort to; "Sorry to trouble you, but..." | |
| 4. | bother - intrude or enter uninvited; "Don't bother the professor while she is grading term papers" | |
| 5. | bother - make nervous or agitated; "The mere thought of her bothered him and made his heart beat faster" charge up, commove, agitate, rouse, excite, turn on, charge - cause to be agitated, excited, or roused; "The speaker charged up the crowd with his inflammatory remarks" bother - make confused or perplexed or puzzled | |
| 6. | bother - make confused or perplexed or puzzled disconcert, flurry, confuse, put off - cause to feel embarrassment; "The constant attention of the young man confused her" bother - make nervous or agitated; "The mere thought of her bothered him and made his heart beat faster" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
bother
verb
1. concern yourself, take the time, make the effort, go to the trouble, trouble yourself, burden yourself, inconvenience yourself Most of the papers didn't even bother reporting it.
2. trouble, concern, worry, upset, alarm, disturb, distress, annoy, dismay, gall, disconcert, vex, perturb, faze, put or get someone's back up That kind of jealousy doesn't bother me.
3. pester, plague, irritate, put out, harass, nag, hassle (informal), inconvenience, molest, breathe down someone's neck, get on your nerves (informal), nark (Brit., Austral., & N.Z. slang), bend someone's ear (informal), give someone grief (Brit. & S. African), get on your wick (Brit. slang) I don't know why he bothers me with this kind of rubbish.
pester help, support, further, aid, assist, relieve, facilitate, succour
pester help, support, further, aid, assist, relieve, facilitate, succour
noun
1. trouble, problem, worry, difficulty, strain, grief (Brit. & S. African), fuss, pest, irritation, hassle (informal), nuisance, flurry, uphill (S. African), inconvenience, annoyance, aggravation, vexation Most men hate the bother of shaving.
trouble use, help, service, benefit, aid, advantage, comfort, convenience
trouble use, help, service, benefit, aid, advantage, comfort, convenience
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
bother
verbnoun
1. Something that annoys:
2. The feeling of being annoyed:
3. Needless trouble:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
ازْعاج، مُضايَقَهمُزعج، مُضايقيُزْعِجُ ، يُضايِقُيُزْعِجُ نَفْسَهُ، يُضايِقُيُقْلَقُ
obtěžovatobtěžovat seobtížotravapotíž
bekymre sigbesværgøre sig den ulejlighedirriteremas
vaivatahäiriöhäiritävaiva
zamarati se
angraómaka sig, hafa fyriróòægindivesen
悩ます
괴롭히다
bėdarūpestistrukdytivargintivargintis
apgrūtinājumsapgrūtinātDon’t bother!nepatikšanasNepūlieties!
mučiti senadlogapotruditi sevznemirjati
besvära
ทำให้ยุ่งยาก
quấy rầy
bother
[ˈbɒðəʳ]A. N
1. (= nuisance) → molestia f, lata f
what a bother! → ¡qué lata!
it's such a bother to clean → es una lata limpiarlo, es muy incómodo limpiarlo
what a bother! → ¡qué lata!
it's such a bother to clean → es una lata limpiarlo, es muy incómodo limpiarlo
2. (= problems) → problemas mpl
I found the street without any bother → encontré la calle sin problemas
do you have much bother with your car? → ¿tienes muchos problemas con el coche?
he had a spot of bother with the police → tuvo un pequeño problema con la policía
I found the street without any bother → encontré la calle sin problemas
do you have much bother with your car? → ¿tienes muchos problemas con el coche?
he had a spot of bother with the police → tuvo un pequeño problema con la policía
B. VT
C. VI (= take trouble) → tomarse la molestia (to do de hacer) to bother about/with → molestarse or preocuparse por
don't bother → no te molestes, no te preocupes
he didn't even bother to write → ni siquiera se molestó en escribir
don't bother → no te molestes, no te preocupes
he didn't even bother to write → ni siquiera se molestó en escribir
D. EXCL → ¡porras!
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
bother
[ˈbɒðər] vt
(= worry) → tracasser
What's bothering you? → Qu'est-ce qui te tracasse?
to bother o.s. with sth (= concern o.s. with) → se tracasser avec qch
I don't need to bother myself with the details → Je n'ai pas à me tracasser avec les détails.
What's bothering you? → Qu'est-ce qui te tracasse?
to bother o.s. with sth (= concern o.s. with) → se tracasser avec qch
I don't need to bother myself with the details → Je n'ai pas à me tracasser avec les détails.
(= torment) → importuner, ennuyer
to bother doing sth, to bother to do sth (= trouble to) → prendre la peine de faire qch
He didn't bother to tell me about it → Il n'a pas pris la peine de m'en parler.
I can't be bothered to
I can't be bothered to go → J'ai vraiment la flemme d'y aller.
He didn't bother to tell me about it → Il n'a pas pris la peine de m'en parler.
I can't be bothered to
I can't be bothered to go → J'ai vraiment la flemme d'y aller.
(expletive) (mainly British) (old-fashioned) bother it! → zut!
vi
to bother about sth (= worry) → se soucier de qch
n (= trouble) → mal m
it's no bother! → aucun problème!
it's too much bother
BUT c'est trop compliqué.
without any bother → sans problème
it's less bother → c'est plus simple
it's such a bother! → quelle barbe!
the bother of sth → la corvée de qch
the bother of shaving → la corvée du rasage
it's a bother → c'est une corvée
it is a bother to have to do sth → c'est vraiment ennuyeux d'avoir à faire qch
it's no bother! → aucun problème!
it's too much bother
BUT c'est trop compliqué.
without any bother → sans problème
it's less bother → c'est plus simple
it's such a bother! → quelle barbe!
the bother of sth → la corvée de qch
the bother of shaving → la corvée du rasage
it's a bother → c'est une corvée
it is a bother to have to do sth → c'est vraiment ennuyeux d'avoir à faire qch
excl (mainly British) (old-fashioned) → zut!
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
bother
vt
(= annoy, trouble, person, noise) → belästigen; (sb’s behaviour, tight garment, hat, long hair) → ärgern, stören; (= cause disturbance to, light, noise, sb’s presence, mistakes etc) → stören; (= give trouble, back, teeth etc) → zu schaffen machen (+dat); (= worry) → Sorgen machen (+dat); (matter, problem, question) → beschäftigen, keine Ruhe lassen (+dat); I’m sorry to bother you but … → es tut mir leid, dass ich Sie damit belästigen muss, aber …; well I’m sorry I bothered you → entschuldigen Sie, dass ich (überhaupt) gefragt habe; don’t bother your head about that → zerbrechen Sie sich (dat) → darüber nicht den Kopf; don’t bother yourself about that → machen Sie sich (dat) → darüber mal keine Gedanken or Sorgen; I wouldn’t let it bother me → darüber würde ich mir keine Sorgen or Gedanken machen; I shouldn’t let it bother you → machen Sie sich mal keine Sorgen; don’t bother me! → lass mich in Frieden!; he was always bothering me to lend him money → er hat mich dauernd um Geld angegangen; could I bother you for a light? → dürfte ich Sie vielleicht um Feuer bitten?; one thing is still bothering him → eins stört ihn noch; what’s bothering you? → was haben Sie denn?; is something bothering you? → haben Sie etwas? ? hot
I/he can’t be bothered → ich habe/er hat keine Lust; I can’t be bothered with people like him/with opera → für solche Leute/für Opern habe ich nichts übrig; I can’t be bothered to do or with doing that → ich habe einfach keine Lust, das zu machen; he can’t be bothered about or with small matters like that → mit solchen Kleinigkeiten gibt er sich nicht ab; do you want to stay or go? — I’m not bothered → willst du bleiben oder gehen? — das ist mir egal; I’m not bothered about him/the money → seinetwegen/wegen des Geldes mache ich mir keine Gedanken
(= take trouble to do) don’t bother to do it again → das brauchen Sie nicht nochmals zu tun; don’t bother to ask → Sie brauchen nicht (zu) fragen; I won’t bother asking YOU again! → DICH werde ich bestimmt nicht mehr fragen!; she didn’t even bother to ask/check first → sie hat gar nicht erst gefragt/nachgesehen; please don’t bother getting up or to get up → bitte, bleiben Sie doch sitzen; you needn’t bother to come → Sie brauchen wirklich nicht (zu) kommen
vi → sich kümmern (about um); (= get worried) → sich (dat) → Sorgen machen (about um); don’t bother about me! → machen Sie sich meinetwegen keine Sorgen; (sarcastic) → ist ja egal, was ich will; to bother with somebody → sich mit jdm abgeben; he/it is not worth bothering about → über ihn/darüber brauchen wir gar nicht zu reden, er/das ist nicht der Mühe wert; I’m not going to bother with that → das lasse ich; I didn’t bother about lunch → ich habe das Mittagessen ausgelassen; don’t bother! → nicht nötig!; really you needn’t have bothered! → das wäre aber wirklich nicht nötig gewesen!; don’t bother! → nicht nötig!; really you needn’t have bothered! → das wäre aber wirklich nicht nötig gewesen!
n
(= nuisance) → Plage f; it’s such a bother → das ist wirklich lästig or eine Plage; I’ve forgotten it, what a bother → ich habe es vergessen, wie ärgerlich or so was Ärgerliches; he/the car can be a bit of a bother → er/das Auto kann einem wirklich Schwierigkeiten machen; I know it’s an awful bother for you but … → ich weiß, dass Ihnen das fürchterliche Umstände macht, aber …
(= trouble, contretemps etc) → Ärger m; (= difficulties) → Schwierigkeiten pl; she’s in a spot of bother → sie hat Schwierigkeiten; we had a spot or bit of bother with the car → wir hatten Ärger mit dem Auto; I didn’t have any bother getting the visa → es war kein Problem, das Visum zu bekommen; I’ll do it tonight, no bother (inf) → kein Problem, das mache ich heute Abend; that’s all right, it’s no bother → bitte schön, das tue ich doch gern; it wasn’t any bother (= don’t mention it) → das ist gern geschehen; (= not difficult) → das war ganz einfach; the children were no bother at all → wir hatten mit den Kindern überhaupt keine Probleme; to go to a lot of bother to do something → sich (dat) → mit etw viel Mühe geben; please don’t put yourself to any bother on my account → machen Sie meinetwegen keine Umstände
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
bother
[ˈbɒðəʳ]1. n (nuisance) → seccatura, noia; (trouble) → fastidio, disturbo
it is a bother to have to go → è una seccatura dover andare
that's no bother, I'll see to it → non c'è problema, ci penso io
the children were no bother at all → i bambini non hanno dato nessun fastidio
it wasn't any bother (don't mention it) → si figuri!, s'immagini!
he had a spot of bother with the police → ha avuto delle noie con la polizia
it is a bother to have to go → è una seccatura dover andare
that's no bother, I'll see to it → non c'è problema, ci penso io
the children were no bother at all → i bambini non hanno dato nessun fastidio
it wasn't any bother (don't mention it) → si figuri!, s'immagini!
he had a spot of bother with the police → ha avuto delle noie con la polizia
2. vt (worry) → preoccupare; (annoy) → seccare, infastidire, dar fastidio a
to bother doing or to do sth → darsi la pena di fare qc
I'm sorry to bother you with my problems → mi spiace importunarti con i miei problemi
does the noise bother you? → ti dà fastidio il rumore?
don't bother me! → lasciami in pace!
I can't be bothered going out or to go out → proprio non mi va di uscire
his leg bothers him → gli fa un po' male la gamba
he didn't even bother to write → non si è nemmeno sprecato a scrivere due righe
to bother doing or to do sth → darsi la pena di fare qc
I'm sorry to bother you with my problems → mi spiace importunarti con i miei problemi
does the noise bother you? → ti dà fastidio il rumore?
don't bother me! → lasciami in pace!
I can't be bothered going out or to go out → proprio non mi va di uscire
his leg bothers him → gli fa un po' male la gamba
he didn't even bother to write → non si è nemmeno sprecato a scrivere due righe
4. excl → uffa!, accidenti!
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
bother
(ˈboðə) verb1. to annoy or worry. The noise bothered the old man.
2. to take the trouble. Don't bother to write – it isn't necessary.
noun1. trouble, nuisance or worry.
2. something or someone that causes bother. What a bother all this is!
ˈbothersome adjective causing bother or annoyance. a bothersome cough.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
bother
→ يُقْلَقُ obtěžovat (se) gøre sig den ulejlighed kümmern (sich) ασχολούμαι molestar, molestarse vaivata se tracasser zamarati se infastidire 悩ます 괴롭히다 de moeite nemen bry przejmować się incomodar беспокоить besvära ทำให้ยุ่งยาก zahmet etmek quấy rầy 打扰Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
Collins Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
bother
vt molestar; Is your neck bothering you?..¿Le molesta el cuello?English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.