bum

[ buhm ]

/ bʌm /

noun

a person who avoids work and sponges on others; loafer; idler.

a tramp, hobo, or derelict.

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.

Informal. an incompetent person.

a drunken orgy; debauch.

verb (used with object), bummed, bum·ming.

Informal. to borrow without expectation of returning; get for nothing; cadge: He's always bumming cigarettes from me.

Slang. to ruin or spoil: The weather bummed our whole weekend.

verb (used without object), bummed, bum·ming.

to sponge on others for a living; lead an idle or dissolute life.

to live as a hobo.

adjective, bum·mer, bum·mest.

Slang. of poor, wretched, or miserable quality; unsatisfactory: I figured $300 was a bum deal for a minor repair, but I paid it anyway.

Slang. fraudulent or fake: He was accused of issuing a bum check for $2920.

Slang. disappointing; unpleasant.

Slang. erroneous or ill-advised; misleading: I think the gauge is giving me a bum readout.

Slang. physically disabled, impaired, or injured: a bum leg.

Verb Phrases

bum around, Informal. to travel, wander, or spend one's time aimlessly: We bummed around for a couple of hours after work.

QUIZZES

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Question 1 of 7

What does “vacillate” mean?

to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.

to cause to be empty or unoccupied.

to assent tacitly; agree; consent.

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Idioms for bum

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.

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.

Origin of bum

First recorded in 1860–65, Americanism; perhaps shortening of or back formation from bummer¹; adjective senses of unclear relation to sense “loafer” and perhaps of distinct origin

SYNONYMS FOR bum

2 vagabond, vagrant.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR bum ON THESAURUS.COM

Definition for bum (2 of 3)

bum²

[ buhm ]

/ bʌm /

noun Chiefly British Slang.

the buttocks; rump.

Origin of bum

1350–1400; Middle English bom; of uncertain origin

Definition for bum (3 of 3)

bum³

[ buhm ]

/ bʌm /

noun Military Slang.

a reproduction of a document made with copying equipment.

a bag into which classified waste is put in preparation for destruction.

Origin of bum

perhaps as shortening of bumf or bumfodder;def. 2 presumably as shortening of bum bag

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

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

a disreputable loafer or idler

a tramp; hobo

an irresponsible, unpleasant, or mean person

a person who spends a great deal of time on a specified sportbaseball bum

on the bum

living as a loafer or vagrant
out of repair; broken

verb bums, bumming or bummed

(tr) to get by begging; cadgeto bum a lift

(intr often foll by around) to live by begging or as a vagrant or loafer

(intr usually foll by around) to spend time to no good purpose; loaf; idle

bum someone off US and Canadian slang to disappoint, annoy, or upset someone

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

Idioms and Phrases with bum

bum

In addition to the idioms beginning with bum

bum around
bum out
bum rap
bum steer

also see:

on the blink (bum)

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WORD OF THE DAY

bum

noun

verb (used with object), bummed, bum·ming.