Green’s Dictionary of Slang

buggered adj.1

[bugger! excl.]

a synon. for damned adj.; esp. as I’ll be/I’m buggered.

Show quotations
[UK]‘Jack Muggins’ in Rum Ti Tum! in Spedding & Watt (eds) Bawdy Songbooks (2011) III 173: Ven von of them beggard informers, / Employed by the babies of grace, / [...] / Nabb’d Jack for a cruelty case.
[UK]Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 10/2: Not a bloody ‘mag’ shall he ‘kick’ out of this ‘job,’ or I’m buggered.
[UK]Cythera’s Hymnal 62: ‘You be buggered and miss my arse!’.
[UK]‘Walter’ My Secret Life (1966) VII 1346: I’m buggered if I let you fuck me tonight.
[US]G.D. Chase ‘Further Word-Lists – Maine’ in DN IV:ii 151: buggered, Used commonly in mild ejaculation by men. ‘I’ll be buggered!’.
[UK]‘J.H. Ross’ Mint (1955) 94: Well, I’m buggered, who’d have fucking well thought it.
[UK]J. Franklyn This Gutter Life 126: I’m pinched again I tell ye! and I’ll be b******d if it’s not the fourth time in three months!
[Aus]K. Tennant Battlers 211: Buggered if we’re goin’ to leave old Joe at home, if we have to walk every inch of the way.
[NZ]D. Davin For the Rest of Our Lives 320: Well, I’ll be buggered [...] How the hell did you do it?
A. Burgess Beds in the East (1972) 524: ‘You’d hardly believe the things they put up with back in England. I’ve not been back for thirty years. And I’m buggered if I’m going back.’.
[Aus]D. Hewett Bobbin Up (1961) 78: I’ve never met a copper yet was any good [...] I’m buggered if I’ll be a father-in-law to one.
[Aus]Meanjin Quarterly Mar. (Melbourne) 41: I’m buggered if I was going to have a type like that in my house.
[Aus]P. White Burnt Ones 161: ‘I’m buggered if I will!’ he said, very quiet.
[UK]M. Shadbolt Among Cinders 76: ‘Now, Dad, how about a cup of tea?’ ‘Tea be buggered.’.
[UK]B.S. Johnson All Bull 28: ‘I’m Phil.’ ‘I’m Frank.’ ‘I’m buggered!’.
[Aus]D. Ireland Glass Canoe (1982) 156: ‘Sit back and rest. There’ll be a cup of tea along in a minute.’ ‘Rest be buggered,’ says Liz, undaunted by the prevailing kindness.
[NZ]G. Newbold Big Huey 111: ‘Have you been drinking, O’Hara?’ ‘Drinking be buggered.’.
[Aus]B. Robinson Aussie Bull 25: Buggered if I know.
[UK]Viz Oct./Nov. 47: I’m buggered if I’m getting out of this van.
[Aus]R.G. Barratt ‘I Might be a Racist, But’ in What Do You Reckon (1997) [ebook] I’m buggered if I could see the Ku Klux Klan dynamiting churches.
[Aus]R.G. Barrett Mud Crab Boogie (2013) [ebook] Buggered if I know. I’m buggered if I do.
[UK]Guardian Media 30 Aug. 2: I’m buggered if I’m going to tell you again.
[Aus]R.G. Barrett Leaving Bondi (2013) [ebook] ‘Buggered if I know’.
[UK]Observer Music Monthly 9 May 14: I’m buggered if I’m gonna make the same mistake again.

In phrases

buggered if I know

a phr. in answer to a question, stating one’s absolute ignorance.

Show quotations
[UK]J. MacLaren-Ross ‘I Had to Go Sick’ in Memoirs of the Forties (1984) 267: ‘And what about my kit.’ ‘That’ll be in the stores, I suppose. Buggered if I know. I’m from another company.’ [...] ‘Buggered if I know when he’ll be back.’.
[Aus]‘Nino Culotta’ Cop This Lot 52: [He] said he had been in Australia for fifteen years. I asked him why he had left it. He said, ‘Buggered if I know.’.
[Aus]D. O’Grady A Bottle of Sandwiches 19: ‘What’s wrong with him?’ I said. [...] ‘Buggered if I know,’ Pat said.
[Aus]J. O’Grady It’s Your Shout, Mate! 94: I answered ‘Buggered if I know.’.
[Aus]R.G. Barrett Real Thing 80: The nuggety detective shook his head again. ‘Buggered if I know’.
[Aus]G. Disher Deathdeal [ebook] ‘Got scared, did a bunk, buggered if I know’.
[Scot]I. Rankin Let It Bleed 88: ‘Buggered if I know,’ he announced to himself.
[Aus]T. Winton ‘Commission’ in Turning (2005) 229: I’m buggered if I know, I said in disgust.
[Aus]P. Temple Truth 64: Singleton had it in for me, buggered why.