botherverb
uk/ˈbɒð.ər/us/ˈbɑː.ðɚ/bother verb (MAKE AN EFFORT)
B2 [ I or T ] to make the effort to do something:
[ + to infinitive ] He hasn't even bothered to write.
You could have phoned us but you just didn't bother.
[ + -ing verb ] Don't bother making the bed - I'll do it later.
[ + -ing verb or + to infinitive ] You'd have found it if you'd bothered looking/to look.
You won't get any credit for doing it, so why bother?
can't be bothered B2 mainly UK informal
If you can't be bothered doing/to do something, you are too lazy or tired to do it:
I can't be bothered to iron my clothes.
Most evenings I can't be bothered cooking.
More examples
- I don't know why he bothers to bet - his horses always come in last.
- Don't bother drying the pans - just leave them to drain.
- It peeves me that she didn't bother to phone.
- Why bother getting up at all when you don't have a job to go to?
- They went to a lot of trouble for their dinner party, but half the guests didn't bother to turn up.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Trying and making an effort
- a blitz on sth idiom
- all-out
- assault
- attempt
- attempted
- bid
- crack
- go to great lengths idiom
- God helps those who help themselves idiom
- grasp at sth
- grope
- grope for sth
- push
- shoot
- stick
- stretch a/the point idiom
- strive
- strove
- succeed
- suck
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Unwilling and reluctant
bother verb (WORRY)
B2 [ T ] to make someone feel worried or upset:
Does it bother you that he's out so much of the time?
Living on my own has never bothered me.
I don't care if he doesn't come - it doesn't bother me.
[ + that ] It bothers me that he doesn't seem to notice.
More examples
- The idea of going grey doesn't bother me, but I'd hate to go bald.
- "He can do what he likes - it doesn't bother me, " she said airily.
- It doesn't bother me what people think.
- It bothered him that no-one had taken the trouble to contact him.
- She doesn't seem at all bothered about her exam results.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Making people sad, shocked and upset
- aback
- amiss
- appal
- be laughing on the other side of your face idiom
- bite
- burn
- hit/touch a (raw) nerve idiom
- horrify
- hurt sb's feelings idiom
- hurtful
- it'll (all) end in tears idiom
- laugh
- mess
- nose
- shake
- tear sb apart
- tear sb's heart out idiom
- torture
- traumatize
- twist/turn the knife (in the wound) idiom
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bother verb (ANNOY)
A2 [ T ] to annoy or cause problems for someone:
Don't bother your father when he's working.
I'm sorry to bother you, but could you help me lift this suitcase?
I didn't want to bother her with work matters on her day off.
The noise was beginning to bother us, so we left.
She threatened to call the police if he didn't stop bothering her.
More examples
- She looked busy and I didn't want to bother her.
- If the noise bothers you I'll switch it off.
- The neighbours make a bit of noise but it doesn't bother me.
- Will it bother you if I have the TV on?
- I didn't want to bother her when she has so many problems of her own.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Causing feelings of anger and displeasure
- aggravate
- aggrieve
- alienate
- anger
- annoy
- burn
- go too far idiom
- goat
- grate
- hack
- hack sb off
- harass
- nose
- ruffle sb's feathers idiom
- set sb's teeth on edge idiom
- step/tread on sb's toes idiom
- stick in sb's craw idiom
- stick in sb's throat idiom
- tee
- toe
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bothernoun
uk/ˈbɒð.ər/us/ˈbɑː.ðɚ/bother noun (EFFORT)
[ U ] trouble or problems:
I can take you there - it's really no bother.
Some people don't get married because they don't want the bother (= they don't want to make the effort that is necessary).
Please don't go to any bother on my account (= don't make any special effort for me).
It hardly seems worth the bother to go all that way just for two nights.
UK I had a bit of bother getting hold of his phone number.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Inconvenience
- a pain (in the neck) idiom
- a pain in the arse/backside idiom
- aggravation
- aggro
- awkward
- bore
- disturbance
- drag
- hassle
- have fun and games idiom
- imposition
- inconvenience
- inconvenient
- put sb out
- put yourself out
- rigmarole
- snag
- some
- storm
- tempest
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bother noun (ANNOYING)
[ S ] UK an annoying person or situation:
I'm sorry to be a bother, but could I have that number again?
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Inconvenience
- a pain (in the neck) idiom
- a pain in the arse/backside idiom
- aggravation
- aggro
- awkward
- bore
- disturbance
- drag
- hassle
- have fun and games idiom
- imposition
- inconvenience
- inconvenient
- put sb out
- put yourself out
- rigmarole
- snag
- some
- storm
- tempest
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botherexclamation
uk/ˈbɒð.ər/us/ˈbɑː.ðɚ/UK old-fashionedused to express anger:
Oh bother! It's raining and I left my umbrella at home.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Expressions of anger
- bally
- biscuit
- blast
- blasted
- bleeding
- bloody
- dare
- dash
- flip
- flipping
- for crying out loud! idiom
- freaking
- frigging
- pipe
- precious
- sodding
- that (really) takes the biscuit idiom
- that does it! idiom
- what a business! idiom
- what do you mean? idiom
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