bugaboo


Also found in: Thesaurus, Wikipedia.

bug·a·boo

 (bŭg′ə-bo͞o′)
n. pl. bug·a·boos
1. An object of often obsessive fear, anxiety, or irritation: raising the bugaboo of socialism to derail a plan for national health insurance.
2. A difficult or persistent problem: "At the bottom of all these deficiencies of planning and execution ... lay that old bugaboo, lack of unity of command" (Philip B. Davidson).

[Perhaps of Celtic origin and akin to Welsh bwg, ghost.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

bugaboo

(ˈbʌɡəˌbuː)
n, pl -boos
an imaginary source of fear; bugbear; bogey
[C18: probably of Celtic origin; compare Cornish buccaboo the devil]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

bug•a•boo

(ˈbʌg əˌbu)

n., pl. -boos.
something that causes fear or worry; bugbear; bogy.
[1730–40; earlier buggybow. See bogy1, boo1]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.bugaboo - an imaginary monster used to frighten childrenbugaboo - an imaginary monster used to frighten children
monster - an imaginary creature usually having various human and animal parts
2.bugaboo - a source of concern; "the old bugaboo of inflation still bothers them"
headache, worry, vexation, concern - something or someone that causes anxiety; a source of unhappiness; "New York traffic is a constant concern"; "it's a major worry"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations

bugaboo

[ˈbʌgəbuː] N (US) → espantajo m, coco m
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

bugaboo

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
References in classic literature ?
"It is some old woman's bugaboo that you are haling out of a dark corner of your imagination to frighten yourself with.
Describe him, in order that, if we meet him by chance, like Bugaboo John or Lara, we may recognize him."
For me no terrors resided in the thought of bugaboos and wicked ogres.
This bugaboo is used everywhere by the people who have economic power to stifle progressive policies that benefit the middle class.
SAVE MONEY There will be huge deals on 150 top brands and best prices are guaranteed on car seats, prams, buggies and furniture find all the big name brands in one place including Bugaboo, iCandy, Maxi-Cosi, Silver Cross, Quinny, Mamas & Papas, Joie, Joolz, Cosatto, Babystyle, OBaby, Mee-Go, Cybex, BeSafe, Bloom, Boori and many more.
That's a bugaboo with other legacy Aspen displays, and a compromised pitot reference can result in the loss of all primary flight data--even attitude.
"Our perception of stress decreased even through the menopausal transition, which suggests that menopause isn't a great bugaboo, perhaps in relation to the other events or experiences that we're having in the midlife," she said.
The Baby and Beyond Show is also packed full of everything for bump, baby and beyond - with discounts and exclusive show offers on big-name brands from the likes of iCandy, Bugaboo, Mamas and Papas, Silver Cross and Egg, to name just a few.
"Liberal democracy" is the bugaboo of the Iranian revolutionary culture and is viewed as the great evil of the world today.
The couple kitted out a PS900 Bugaboo Donkey double buggy blue on both sides for sons Buzz and newborn Buddy.