bother
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++both·er1 /ˈbɒðə $ ˈbɑːðər/ ●●● S1 W3 verb 1 make an effort 作出努力 [intransitive, transitive usually in questions and negatives]DO something/TAKE ACTION to make the effort to do something 费心，麻烦，因…操心(not) bother to do something He didn’t bother to answer the question. 他懒得回答这个问题。not bother about/with He didn’t bother with a reply. 他懒得回复。(not) bother doing something Many young people didn’t bother voting. 许多年轻人都懒得投票。don’t/didn’t/won’t etc bother ‘Do you want me to wait for you?’ ‘No, don’t bother.’ “要我等你吗？”“算了，不用麻烦了。” Why bother to go abroad, when there are so many nice places here? 这里有这么多好地方，干吗还要费事去国外？2 worry 担心 [intransitive, transitive]WORRIED to make someone feel slightly worried, upset, or concerned （使）担心，（使）生气，（使）苦恼 Being in a crowd really bothers me. 我很讨厌人多。 It was very noisy, but that didn’t bother me. 很吵，但是我不在意。bother aboutespecially British English especially British English I try not to bother about what other people think. 我尽量不去管别人怎么想。it bothers somebody that/how/when It really bothered me that he’d forgotten my birthday. 他把我的生日忘了，我很不高兴。3 annoy 使恼怒 [intransitive, transitive]DISTURB to annoy someone, especially by interrupting them when they are trying to do something 打扰，烦扰 Danny, don’t bother Ellen while she’s reading. 丹尼，埃伦看书的时候不要去打扰她 。 Would it bother you if I put on some music? 我放点音乐会你介意吗？bother somebody about/with something It didn’t seem worth bothering the doctor about. 好像不用去麻烦医生。4 somebody can’t/couldn’t be bothered (to do something) especially British EnglishNOT DO something used to say that you do not want to make the effort to do something, or that you are not interested in doing something 某人不想费心（去做某事），某人没兴趣（做某事） It was so hot I couldn’t be bothered to cook. 天气这么热，我都懒得做饭了。 I should be revising, but I just can’t be bothered. 我应该温习功课，可就是不想去做。5 cause pain 引起疼痛 [transitive] if a part of your body bothers you, it is slightly painful or uncomfortable 使疼痛 My back’s been bothering me. 我一直背痛。6 sorry to bother you spokenATTENTION used as a very polite way of interrupting someone when you want their attention 对不起打扰你一下 Sorry to bother you, but Mr. Grey is on the line. 对不起打扰您一下，格雷先生打电话找您。7 frighten 吓唬 [transitive]HURT/CAUSE PAIN to upset or frighten someone by talking to them when they do not want to talk to you, trying to hurt them, touch them sexually etc 骚扰，烦扰 Don’t worry – my dog won’t bother you. 别担心，我的狗不会咬你。 If he starts bothering you, let me know. 如果他来烦你就告诉我。8 not bother yourself/not bother your head NOT DO somethingto not spend time or effort on something, either because it is not important or because it is too difficult 〔因不重要或太难而〕不为…操心[伤脑筋]not bother yourself/not bother your head with/about Cliff didn’t want to bother himself with details. 克利夫不想过问细节问题。9 bother it/them etc ANNOY British English spoken old-fashioned used to express a sudden feeling of annoyance about something 真讨厌〔表示厌烦〕→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
bother• Just because you live alone does not mean that you should not bother.• And it was then she finally asked me a question that has bothered her for twenty years.• Something's bothering him but I'm not sure what.• You know the story by heart.-Then why did you bother in the first place?• Will you stop bothering me? I'm trying to watch a program.• The only thing that bothers me is how I'm going to get from the station to the farm.• What bothers me is that you didn't feel you could talk to me or your father about it.• Actually, my back hasn't been bothering me.• Because employers do not bother, the papers can be produced cheaply, so more illegal immigrants come in.• None of which may initially bother the Western Koi-keeper, whose main concern is to provide good water quality for his fish.• Irate customers who bother to complain to their local water executives will be told the rises are no higher than were forecast.• You don't hand your homework in on time, or you don't even bother to do it.• I have challenged the prospective Labour candidate in Harrow, West to do so, but he has not bothered to reply.• Sorry to bother you, but could you help me one more time with the copier?• Will it bother you if I play some music?• "Why didn't you ask me for help?" "I didn't want to bother you."• You shouldn't let little things like that bother you.• Excuse me, Miss, is that man bothering you?Why bother• And cheap too! Why bother?• I could check my calendar. Why bother?• Judged on these grounds, the new proposals from the Basle Committee seem to make sense. Why bother?• Less and less. Why bother?• We now turn to consider why a counter-strategy should be mounted against this loss of a universal citizenship. Why Bother?• Tough guy or sweet guy? Why bother being Hollywood if you end up with such an identity crisis?bother about• U.S. officials no longer bother about diplomatic politeness.bother2 noun 1 [uncountable] especially British EnglishPROBLEM trouble or difficulty that has been caused by small problems and that usually only continues for a short time 麻烦，不便，困难 SYN trouble2 a bother especially British EnglishANNOY a person or job that slightly annoys you by causing trouble or problems 难对付的人[事]Examples from the Corpus
bother• New husbands could be a bother sometimes.• I can pick up a letter there without any bother.• It was enough bother having to share my mum and my dad.• It was not so much that she distrusted banks as the bother for the visit.• Still keeps all the lights out at night in case the bother starts again.• Unfortunately the bits in between are hard work and ultimately are not really worth the bother.saved ... the bother of• Because there was neither carriage nor honeymoon Harry was saved the bother of providing sacks of rose-petal confetti.bother3 interjection British English informal ANNOYused when you are slightly annoyed 讨厌，坏了 Oh bother! I forgot to phone Jean. 哎呀坏了！我忘记给琼打电话了。Origin bother1 (1600-1700) Perhaps from Irish Gaelic bodhar “deaf, bothered”both·er1 verbbother2 nounbother3 interjectionChineseSyllable
do to to effort the make Corpus
bother
both‧er1 S1 W3 /ˈbɒðə $ ˈbɑːðər/ 
verb
(not) bother to do something
He didn’t bother to answer the question.
not bother about/with
He didn’t bother with a reply.
(not) bother doing something
Many young people didn’t bother voting.
don’t/didn’t/won’t etc bother
‘Do you want me to wait for you?’ ‘No, don’t bother.’
Why bother to go abroad, when there are so many nice places here?
2. WORRY [intransitive and transitive] to make someone feel slightly worried, upset, or concerned:
Being in a crowd really bothers me.
It was very noisy, but that didn’t bother me.
bother about especially British English:
I try not to bother about what other people think.
bother somebody that
It really bothered me that he’d forgotten my birthday.
3. ANNOY [intransitive and transitive] to annoy someone, especially by interrupting them when they are trying to do something:
Danny, don’t bother Ellen while she’s reading.
Would it bother you if I put on some music?
bother somebody about/with something
It didn’t seem worth bothering the doctor about.
4. somebody can’t/couldn’t be bothered (to do something) especially British English used to say that you do not want to make the effort to do something, or that you are not interested in doing something:
It was so hot I couldn’t be bothered to cook.
I should be revising, but I just can’t be bothered.
5. CAUSE PAIN [transitive] if a part of your body bothers you, it is slightly painful or uncomfortable:
My back’s been bothering me.
6. sorry to bother you spoken used as a very polite way of interrupting someone when you want their attention:
Sorry to bother you, but Mr. Grey is on the line.
7. FRIGHTEN [transitive] to upset or frighten someone by talking to them when they do not want to talk to you, trying to hurt them, touch them sexually etc:
Don’t worry – my dog won’t bother you.
If he starts bothering you, let me know.
8. not bother yourself/not bother your head to not spend time or effort on something, either because it is not important or because it is too difficult
not bother yourself/not bother your head with/about
Cliff didn’t want to bother himself with details.
9. bother it/them etc British English spoken old-fashioned used to express a sudden feeling of annoyance about something:
Oh bother it! The thread’s broken again!
■ when someone is doing something
▪interrupt [intransitive and transitive] to stop someone from continuing to do something: Miss Danziger apologised for interrupting their enjoyment of their meal. | My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the doorbell. | His interview was interrupted by a call from the President.
▪disturb to interrupt someone when they are trying to work, sleep etc: The sign on the door said ‘Do not disturb. Meeting in progress’. | I hope I’m not disturbing you. Do you want me to come back later? | Her sleep was disturbed by a violent hammering on the door.
▪bother to interrupt someone, especially by asking questions when they are trying to do something else: ‘I’m very sorry to bother you,’ Jackson said smoothly, ‘but I’d like a few minutes of your time.’ | You mustn’t bother him - he’s working on his essay.
bother2 noun
1. [uncountable] especially British English trouble or difficulty that has been caused by small problems and that usually only continues for a short time
SYN trouble:
It’s an old car, but it’s never caused me any bother.
bother with
Joe’s been having a bit of bother with his back again.
‘Thanks for your help.’ ‘It was no bother (=used to emphasize that you were happy to help someone) at all.’
My mother hardly ever went to the bother of (=the effort of) making cakes.
Are you sure the station is on your way? I don’t want to give you any extra bother.
I should have phoned the shop first and saved myself the bother of going there.
something is more bother than it’s worth (=it is too difficult to be worth doing)
2. a bother especially British English a person or job that slightly annoys you by causing trouble or problems:
I hate to be a bother, but could you show me how the copier works?
bother3 interjection British English informal
used when you are slightly annoyed:
Oh bother! I forgot to phone Jean.
| I |
verb Date: 1600-1700
Origin: Perhaps from Irish Gaelic bodhar 'deaf, bothered'
1. MAKE AN EFFORT [intransitive, transitive usually in questions and negatives] to make the effort to do somethingOrigin: Perhaps from Irish Gaelic bodhar 'deaf, bothered'
(not) bother to do something
not bother about/with
(not) bother doing something
don’t/didn’t/won’t etc bother
2. WORRY [intransitive and transitive] to make someone feel slightly worried, upset, or concerned:
bother about especially British English:
bother somebody that
3. ANNOY [intransitive and transitive] to annoy someone, especially by interrupting them when they are trying to do something:
bother somebody about/with something
4. somebody can’t/couldn’t be bothered (to do something) especially British English used to say that you do not want to make the effort to do something, or that you are not interested in doing something:
5. CAUSE PAIN [transitive] if a part of your body bothers you, it is slightly painful or uncomfortable:
6. sorry to bother you spoken used as a very polite way of interrupting someone when you want their attention:
7. FRIGHTEN [transitive] to upset or frighten someone by talking to them when they do not want to talk to you, trying to hurt them, touch them sexually etc:
8. not bother yourself/not bother your head to not spend time or effort on something, either because it is not important or because it is too difficult
not bother yourself/not bother your head with/about
9. bother it/them etc British English spoken old-fashioned used to express a sudden feeling of annoyance about something:
| THESAURUS |
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| II |
noun1. [uncountable] especially British English trouble or difficulty that has been caused by small problems and that usually only continues for a short time
SYN trouble:
bother with
something is more bother than it’s worth (=it is too difficult to be worth doing)
2. a bother especially British English a person or job that slightly annoys you by causing trouble or problems:
| III |
interjection British English informalused when you are slightly annoyed:
especially
especially