QUIZ
WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?
Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!
Question 1 of 7
Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.
Idioms about bum
- living or traveling as or in a manner suggesting that of a hobo or tramp.
- in a state of disrepair or disorder: The oven is on the bum again.
bum (someone) out, Slang. to disappoint, upset, or annoy: It really bummed me out that she could have helped and didn't.
on the bum, Informal.
Origin of bum
1An Americanism first recorded in 1860–65; perhaps a shortening of or back formation from bummer1; adjective senses of unclear relation to sense “loafer” and perhaps of distinct origin
Words nearby bum
bulrush, Bultmann, bulwark, Bulwer, Bulwer-Lytton, bum, bum around, bum bag, bumbailiff, bumbershoot, bumble
Other definitions for bum (2 of 2)
Origin of bum
2First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English bom; of uncertain origin
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use bum in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for bum (1 of 2)
bum1
/ (bʌm) /
noun
British slang the buttocks or anus
Word Origin for bum
C14: of uncertain origin
British Dictionary definitions for bum (2 of 2)
bum2
/ (bʌm) informal /
noun
verb bums, bumming or bummed
adjective
(prenominal) of poor quality; useless
wrong or inappropriatea bum note
Word Origin for bum
C19: probably shortened from earlier bummer a loafer, probably from German bummeln to loaf
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with bum
bum
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.