bully
Noun:
- A person who habitually seeks to harm, intimidate, or coerce those they perceive as vulnerable: A "bully" is someone who uses strength or power to hurt or frighten weaker people, often repeatedly.
- A hired ruffian or thug: Historically, "bully" could refer to a person paid to use violence or intimidation.
Verb:
- To use superior strength or influence to intimidate or harm someone, typically to force them to do something: The action of treating someone abusively or threateningly.
- To act in a domineering, cruel, or threatening manner towards someone.
Adjective (informal, chiefly North American, dated):
- Excellent, first-rate, admirable: An informal and somewhat old-fashioned use meaning something is very good.
Noun:
- The school has a strict policy against any student who acts as a bully.
- He was nothing but a hired bully, doing the dirty work for the local gang.
Verb:
- The older children would often bully the younger ones into giving up their lunch money.
- She felt her boss was trying to bully her into working overtime.
Adjective:
- He did a bully job organizing the event. (Informal/dated)
- That's a bully idea! (Informal/dated)
"To bully someone into something": To coerce or pressure someone into doing something through intimidation.
- They tried to bully him into signing the contract.
"Bully pulpit": A public office or position of authority that provides its occupant with an outstanding opportunity to speak out on any issue. (Note: This is a compound term where "bully" uses the old adjective meaning "excellent").
- The presidency is often called the world's most powerful bully pulpit.
Bullying (n/adj): The behavior of a bully; characterized by bullying.
- The company has a zero-tolerance policy for workplace bullying.
Bullyboy (n): A rough or violent person, especially a hired one.
- The politician was surrounded by bullyboys.
- Noun (person): Tormentor, persecutor, oppressor, thug, ruffian.
- Verb (action): Intimidate, harass, torment, browbeat, coerce, domineer.
- Adjective (excellent): Superb, splendid, capital (all informal/dated).
- Bully off (Sports, chiefly Field Hockey): To start or restart the game by two opponents tapping their sticks together three times before trying to hit the ball.
- The center forwards prepare to bully off.
"Bully for you/him/them!" (Interjection, often ironic): An expression used to say "good for you," but it can be used sincerely or sarcastically to mock someone's perceived self-satisfaction.
- You finished your homework? Well, bully for you!
"To play the bully": To act like a bully.
- He's not a leader; he just likes to play the bully.
- very good
- he did a bully job
- a neat sports car
- had a great time at the party
- you look simply smashing
- a hired thug
- a cruel and brutal fellow
- discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner; intimidate
- be bossy towards
- Her big brother always bullied her when she was young