bother

1 verb

1 MAKE AN EFFORT (I, T) to make the effort to do something

(+ about/with) BrE: I'm too busy to bother about fixing it now. | (not) bother to do sth: Unfortunately he didn't bother to check the exact wording of the contract before he signed it. | Nobody listens to me. I don't know why I bother. | (not) bother doing something: I don't know if Sally's coming to the party. I didn't bother asking. | don't/didn't/won't etc bother: "Do you want me to wait for you?" "No, don't bother."

2 WORRY (I, T) to make someone feel slightly worried or upset: Being in a crowd really bothers me.

(+ about): BrE: I don't think his feelings are worth bothering about. | bother sb that: It really bothered me that he'd forgotten my birthday. | not bother sb: Mandy hates walking home alone at night but it doesn't bother me.

3 ANNOY (I, T) to annoy someone by interrupting them when they are trying to do something: Danny, stop bothering me while I'm trying to work! | bother sb about/with sth: He didn't want to bother her with his financial problems on their honeymoon.

4 can't/couldn't be bothered BrE used to say that you do not want to do something because you do not have enough energy or interest: I knew I ought to clean the car but I just couldn't be bothered. | can't/couldn't be bothered to do sth: My parents could never be bothered to come and see me in the school play.

5 not bothered especially BrE if you are not bothered about something, it is not important to you: "Which chair do you want?" "I'm not bothered."

(+ about): He's not really bothered about getting the facts right,

6 sorry to bother you spoken used as a very polite way of telling someone you want their attention

7 FRIGHTEN (T) to upset or frighten someone by repeatedly trying to hurt them, touch them sexually etc: Is that man bothering you? Shall I call the police?

8 hot and bothered angry and worried about something, especially unnecessarily: What are you getting all hot and bothered about? It's not that important.

9 not bother yourself/not bother your head to not take time or energy to do something or to think about something, either because it is not important or because it is too difficult

(+ with/about): Cliff didn't want to bother himself with masses of detail.

10 bother it/them etc BrE old-fashioned used to express a sudden feeling of annoyance about something: Oh bother it! The thread's broken again!

2 noun

1 (U) especially BrE trouble or difficulty that has been caused by small problems and that usually only continues for a short time: It's an old car but it's never caused me any bother.

(+ with): Joe's been having a bit of bother with his back again recently. | it's no bother spoken (=used to emphasize that you are happy to help someone and it is not much effort): "Thanks for your help." "It was no bother at all." | go to the bother (of doing sth) (=make the effort to do something): I'm not going to go to the bother of writing again. She never writes back. | give sb any bother/a lot of bother etc: Are you sure the station is on your way? I don't want to give you any extra bother. | save sb/yourself the bother (of doing sth): I should have phoned the shop first and saved myself the bother of going there.

2 (singular) BrE a person or job that is annoying to deal with: Sorry to be such a bother but could you show me how the photocopier works?

3 interjection BrE used when you are slightly annoyed about something: Oh bother! I forgot to phone Jean.