bother v.
1. a euph. synon. for damn v. (1)
![[UK]](/static/img/flags/uk.png "United Kingdom") | Larks of Logic, Tom and Jerry III i: Bother the ‘charleys’. | |
| Martin Chuzzlewit (1995) 709: Oh bother the old wictim, Mr. Chuzzlewit [...] I ain’t no patience with him. | |
| Frank Fairlegh (1878) 196: Oh! bother mathematics. | |
| Cheshire Obs. 18 Aug. 8/1: Bother that romance and stuff! / She who likes it is a muff; / We are better up to snuff / / Fast young ladies. | |
 | Inquirer (Perth, WA) 28 Nov. 3/6: Bother that romance and stuff! / She who likes it is a muff. | |
![[US]](/static/img/flags/us.png "United States") | Ticket-of-Leave Man 17: ‘Bother the girls, now I’m a mar’d man,’ hiccupped Green. | |
| Five Years’ Penal Servitude 303: Oh, bother the fellows! | |
![[Ind]](/static/img/flags/ind.png "India") | Stray Leaves (1st ser.) 215: ‘Bother the sergeant-major’. | |
| Moko Marionettes 10: Bother grammar! | |
| Three Men in a Boat 297: Oh, bother the silly old thing! | |
![[Aus]](/static/img/flags/aus.png "Australia") | Truth (Sydney) 3 Feb. 4/7: ‘Bother the Chinese question,’ I said, ‘how did you get on last Saturday?’. | |
| Sappers and Miners 120: Bother the dog, what a row he’s making! | |
| Wind in the Willows (1995) 53: ‘O, bother Toad,’ said the Rat savagely. | |
| Derby Dly Teleg. 15 July 4/5: Bother it, old chap; I cawn’t go to the party. I have no collah-buttons. | |
| Sophomore 35: Miss Dwiggins. (stamping her foot) Bother Mr Cunningham! | |
| Boy’s Own Paper XL:3 116: Oh, bother Pepper! | |
| Marvel 24 July 16: Bother the idiot! | |
| Whizzbang Comics 88: ‘Bother him,’ muttered Tommy. | |
| Loving (1978) 36: Anyway bother nanny. | |
| Billy Bunter at Butlins 32: Oh, bother Quelch! |
2. a euph. for damn v. (2); usu. as (I’m) bothered (if)...
| Jem Bunt 201: If you arn’t the agent, you're his ghost; and I’m bothered if I cares which on you it is, so as you do but come down handsomely. | |
| Voyage from Boston to the West Coast of Africa 307: Well, Jack, I thought I ’d seen ‘niggers’ afore, but I ’m bothered if any such fellows as them are, ever came athwart my hawse. If them are darkies ain’t the raal, ginuwine, ‘Guinea Niggers,’ then my name ain’t ‘Dick Nelson’. | |
| London People 106: And I’m bothered if I didn’t take a wife as well: never mind about her, though, she is gone now, and a better woman never broke bread. | |
| Aus. Jrnl July 610/2: Oh, hang it, Parkes, I’m bothered if I’ll do any detective business [...] for you or anybody. | |
| Clara Vaughan [ebook] I’m bothered if it’s all lies, after all. Never dreamed the old gal could tell a word of truth. | |
| In the Leafy Month of June 49: If I were a pretty girl like you, I’m bothered if I would not have found a better joke. | |
| Cock House at Fellsgarth [ebook] I’m bothered if I can make it out [...] Everybody’s marked down as paid. | |
| Vanguard Library 31 Mar. 3: Bothered if you fellows are not more than human. | |
| Marvel 10 July 4: Bothered if I don’t have a try to pump the silly ass. | |
| Busman’s Honeymoon (1974) 315: ‘Well, I’m bothered!’ exclaimed Mr. Kirk, laughing heartily. |