Meaning of bug-a-boo | Babel Free
/ˈbʌɡəbuː/Definitions
- A mythical, nocturnal creature; a hobgoblin.
- Any imagined fear or threat, or a fear presumed larger than it really is.
Examples
“The German ubu, as well as the French bibou, is also used for bug-a-boo, hobgoblin, or any other fantastical, terrific nocturnal object.”
““Oh! Of all the intolerable bugaboos. Gentlemen, this is a family discu-- Oh!””
“...a fear had come upon them, and they had a kind of bug-a-boo terror about roving gangsters.”
“There is the Goody-good Bug-a-boo, the Consistency Bug-a-boo, and the Bug-a-boo that Thomas Jefferson if he were living now, would never never ride in a carriage. Each of these bug-a-boos in the general mistiness and muddleheadedness of the time can be seen going about, saying "Boo! Boo!" to this democracy ...”
““Uh, Celeste? Sorry to bug. You said you were gonna start making us vampires, quote, "Hopefully within the week." And that was last week.” “Is someone talking to me right now?” “That's actually true. You did say that. And I don't want to be a bugaboo.” “Bugaboo?” “But you know what it's like for us.” “What is this, an ambush?” “Sort of, like, a timeline would mean a l-lot.” “Okay.””
CEFR level
B2
Upper Intermediate
This word is part of the CEFR B2 vocabulary — upper intermediate level.
This word is part of the CEFR B2 vocabulary — upper intermediate level.