That bugger isn't a swear word

[Pinkwithwhite]

DD said you cheeky bugger. I have no issues with this husband is really cross about it.
Who's being unreasonable
YABU— Child shouldn't be saying it
YNBU - It's not ok

[quote Earlymorningcuppa]@HTH1 I didn’t say bugging and buggering were the same - someone who bugs you however is a bugger, in the same way someone who sings to you, is a singer. They are not buggering you they are bugging you. I don’t think anyone thinks buggering snd bugger are in the same league.[/quote]
No, I don't think this is right. A bugger is someone who commits buggery, not someone who bugs you (the latter better described as a pest I'd say). I don't think the analogy with sing/singer holds up in this case.

@Wednesdayat

It's mild. My grandfather used to say it and he was a charming man.

You're kidding, right?

Many 'charming people' have mouths like sewers!

@Pinkwithwhite

Her speech and general understanding of words and using them in the right context is very good. For instance I asked her about something the other day and she said "no mummy that's childish". DH is going to be so pleased that he was right abiut it being a “bad word“ Hate it when hes right 😩

Bugger me literally translates to fuck me in the arse.

@Marynotsocontrary why can't it be both - why is to bug someone not mean you are a bugger. To murder someone means you are a murderer - why is it different? Words can have more than one meaning and their meaning is evolving - language evolves - this thread is evidence of that.

@MintyGreenDream

Hrtft but I remember getting told off in my teens for saying frigging hell."that means female masterbation" said my mother

It's all masturbation I believe if "Frigging in the Rigging" by the Sex Pistols is a reliable source.

[quote Earlymorningcuppa]@Marynotsocontrary why can't it be both - why is to bug someone not mean you are a bugger. To murder someone means you are a murderer - why is it different? Words can have more than one meaning and their meaning is evolving - language evolves - this thread is evidence of that.[/quote]
Yes, I agree that words can have more than one meaning, and that language evolves, but 'a person who bugs (annoys) someone' is NOT a meaning of bugger. You've basically just made up that meaning. Also it's not exactly the same as a person who sings is a singer, a person who murders is a murderer...in this case you don't just say a person who bugs, but someone who bugs/annoys someone else. You wouldn't describe them as an annoyer either, would you?

Not a swear word in my part of Aus. But we’re a sweary lot! Even in my kids high school it’s not a big deal, you’d have to say something pretty terrible to get pulled up for it!

@MrsDrSpencerReid

Not a swear word in my part of Aus. But we’re a sweary lot! Even in my kids high school it’s not a big deal, you’d have to say something pretty terrible to get pulled up for it!

True. I used to regularly watch a late night Australian drama series which ran for a long time and I was quite shocked by the language, eg, 'Pig's bum!", "I don't give Buckley's", and calling people rude names like, "Vinegar Tits".

'Bugger' is mild by comparison ;-).

@Marynotsocontrary The link below defines a bugger as a silly or annoying person, someone who bugs you is someone who annoys you. Same thing. It seems it's not just me making it up, mind you - you do know that's how language evolves - someone makes it up - it becomes an accepted use and it seems to me that quite a few people on this thread feel bugger is a light swear word and therefore it's not just me that is using it that way or me that is making it up.

dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/bugger

Yes, I agree many use it lightly and informally now, but still don't agree that bugger is related to the verb 'to bug (someone)'. Different etymology. I think we'll have to agree to differ on this one Earlymorningcuppa