1 B2 idiomatic informal
To waste time or act in an aimless, unproductive way.
"Stop buggering about and get the report finished before the deadline."
inseparable
bugger about
B2 informal inseparable transitive/intransitive
To waste time or treat someone in an inconsiderate, unhelpful way (British, vulgar).
In plain English
To waste time doing nothing useful, or to treat someone unfairly by not being straight with them.
What does "bugger about" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To treat someone in an inconsiderate or dishonest way; to mess someone around.
"The landlord has been buggering us about for months over the deposit."
inseparable
Usage tip
Chiefly British and Australian. Considered mildly vulgar; avoid in formal contexts. When transitive, means to treat someone inconsiderately or string them along.
Words that pair with "bugger about"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
stop time around someone wasting
How to conjugate "bugger about"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
bugger about
I/you/we/they
3rd person
buggers about
he/she/it
Past simple
buggered about
yesterday
Past participle
buggered about
have + pp
-ing form
buggering about
continuous
Hear "bugger about" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "bugger about" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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