bully off — phrasal verb [intransitive] Word forms bully off : present tense I/you/we/they bully off he/she/it bullies off present participle bullying off past tense bullied off past participle bullied off British to start a game of hockey by hitting another … English dictionary
bully off phrasal — verb (I) to start a game of hockey (1) bully off noun (C) 3 adjective bully for you/him etc spoken used when you do not think that someone has done anything special but they want you to praise them: Yes. I know you ve done all the dishes. Bully… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
bully-off — | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ noun ( s) Etymology: bully (VIII) Britain : bully VII … Useful english dictionary
bully — bul|ly1 [ˈbuli] n plural bullies [Date: 1600 1700; Origin: bully lover, someone who controls a prostitute (16 19 centuries), probably from Dutch boel lover ] someone who uses their strength or power to frighten or hurt someone who is weaker ▪… … Dictionary of contemporary English
bully — I UK [ˈbʊlɪ] / US verb [transitive] Word forms bully : present tense I/you/we/they bully he/she/it bullies present participle bullying past tense bullied past participle bullied * a) to frighten or hurt someone who is smaller or weaker than you… … English dictionary
bully — I. /ˈbʊli / (say boolee) noun (plural bullies) 1. a blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who browbeats smaller or weaker people. 2. a. a quandong seed threaded on a string. b. (plural) a children s game in which one player uses their bully …
bully — [16] Bullies have undergone a sad decline in status. In the 16th century the word meant ‘sweetheart’: ‘Though she be somewhat old, it is my own sweet bully’, John Bale, Three laws 1538. But gradually the rot set in, its meaning passing through… … The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins
bully — [16] Bullies have undergone a sad decline in status. In the 16th century the word meant ‘sweetheart’: ‘Though she be somewhat old, it is my own sweet bully’, John Bale, Three laws 1538. But gradually the rot set in, its meaning passing through… … Word origins
bully — 1. n. & v. n. (pl. ies) a person who uses strength or power to coerce others by fear. v.tr. ( ies, ied) 1 persecute or oppress by force or threats. 2 (foll. by into + verbal noun) pressure or coerce (a person) to do something (bullied him into… … Useful english dictionary
bully — bully1 noun (plural bullies) a person who deliberately intimidates or persecutes those who are weaker. verb (bullies, bullying, bullied) intimidate or persecute (someone weaker). Origin C16 (orig. as a term of endearment, then a form of address… … English new terms dictionary
