bum

¹

[ buhm ]

noun

1. a person who avoids work and sponges on others; loafer; idler.
2. a tramp, hobo, or derelict.

   Synonyms: vagrant, vagabond

3. Informal. an enthusiast of a specific sport or recreational activity, especially one who gives it priority over work, family life, etc.:

   a ski bum; a tennis bum.

4. Informal. an incompetent person.
5. a drunken orgy; debauch.

verb (used with object)

, bummed, bum·ming.

1. Informal. to borrow without expectation of returning; get for nothing; cadge:

   He's always bumming cigarettes from me.

2. Slang. to ruin or spoil:

   The weather bummed our whole weekend.

verb (used without object)

, bummed, bum·ming.

1. to sponge on others for a living; lead an idle or dissolute life.
2. to live as a hobo.

adjective

, bum·mer, bum·mest.

1. Slang. of poor, wretched, or miserable quality; unsatisfactory:

   I figured $300 was a bum deal for a minor repair, but I paid it anyway.

2. Slang. fraudulent or fake:

   He was accused of issuing a bum check for $2920.

3. Slang. disappointing; unpleasant.
4. Slang. erroneous or ill-advised; misleading:

   I think the gauge is giving me a bum readout.

5. Slang. physically disabled, impaired, or injured:

   a bum leg.

verb phrase

1. Informal. to travel, wander, or spend one's time aimlessly:

   We bummed around for a couple of hours after work.

bum

²

[ buhm ]

noun

, Chiefly British Slang.

1. the buttocks; rump.

bum

¹

/ bʌm /

noun

1. a disreputable loafer or idler
2. a tramp; hobo
3. an irresponsible, unpleasant, or mean person
4. a person who spends a great deal of time on a specified sport

   baseball bum

5. on the bum
   on the bum
   1. living as a loafer or vagrant
   2. out of repair; broken

verb

1. tr to get by begging; cadge

   to bum a lift

2. introften foll byaround to live by begging or as a vagrant or loafer
3. intrusually foll byaround to spend time to no good purpose; loaf; idle
4. bum someone off slang.
   bum someone off to disappoint, annoy, or upset someone

adjective

1. prenominal of poor quality; useless
2. wrong or inappropriate

   a bum note

bum

²

/ bʌm /

noun

1. slang.
   the buttocks or anus

Word History and Origins

Origin of bum¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1860–65; perhaps a shortening of or back formation from bummer ¹; adjective senses of unclear relation to sense “loafer” and perhaps of distinct origin

Origin of bum²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English bom; of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of bum¹

C19: probably shortened from earlier bummer a loafer, probably from German bummeln to loaf

Origin of bum²

C14: of uncertain origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. bum (someone) out, Slang. to disappoint, upset, or annoy:

   It really bummed me out that she could have helped and didn't.

2. on the bum, Informal.
   1. living or traveling as or in a manner suggesting that of a hobo or tramp.
   2. in a state of disrepair or disorder:

      The oven is on the bum again.

More idioms and phrases containing bum

• on the blink (bum)

Example Sentences

Neither high-rise nor bikini style, it sits a couple of inches below the belly button and provides full bum coverage—nothing fancy, just a classic fit.

From Outside Online

So, if you were ever bummed out in the way Feld suggested, cheer up—the reality is much more complicated than the headline.

From Nautilus

So in late 1975, they bummed around all up and down the California heartland, casing various country towns and accounting for their advantages and disadvantages.

From Vox

I glanced up and saw it was none other than the stranger who had bummed cigarettes from us.

From Outside Online

When I was 27, I quit my job to travel and ski-bum, and by that point I had managed to save a small sum that could float me for a year.

From Outside Online

Rumours that Lego are producing a new clip-on Pippa Bum are unfounded.

From The Daily Beast

Bum-boats selling goods before sunrising and after sunsetting are very hardly dealt with.

From Project Gutenberg

So Jack gave the cow to the man and took the Bum-clock himself, and started for home.

From Project Gutenberg

And when the man lifted the Bum-clock and put it in his pocket, everybody stopped jigging and dancing and everyone laughed loud.

From Project Gutenberg

An intelligent correspondent suggests that brandy would be about the thing, but that it should be labelled "Bay Bum."

From Project Gutenberg

They served us desserts made with Bum Berry goo As we danced to the tune of the didgeridoo.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bottom
• butt
• buttocks