bothering
bothering — verb
- botheringpresent simple I / you / we / they
- botherings3rd person singular
- botheringing-ing form
- botheringedpast simple
1. to spend time or energy doing something, especially when you are not sure the ef
to spend time or energy doing something, especially when you are not sure the effort is worthwhile; most often used in negative sentences or questions about whether something is worth doing.
Layla did not bother to lock the door before she left for work.
negative: did not bother + to-infinitive
Why bother cleaning the windows right before a thunderstorm?
why bother + -ing form for rhetorical question
Niran never bothers to read the instructions before assembling furniture.
Theo bothered to check the train schedule only after missing the last one.
Yuna said she would not bother applying for a visa that takes six months to process.
- take the trouble
slightly more formal; always affirmative
- make the effort
used both positively and negatively
- go to the trouble
implies more inconvenience than 'bother'
文法句型
not bother + to-infinitive
bother + -ing form
why bother?
用法筆記
In affirmative sentences this sense often carries a tone of regret or surprise that effort was made. The negative pattern ('didn't bother') is far more common in everyday conversation.
常見錯誤
2. used to say that a person is too lazy, tired, or uninterested to do something, s
used to say that a person is too lazy, tired, or uninterested to do something, so they simply decide not to do it.
Ryan could not be bothered to take out the rubbish, so it stayed in the kitchen all weekend.
could not be bothered + to-infinitive
João cannot be bothered getting up early for the market, so he always goes in the afternoon.
cannot be bothered + -ing form
Felipe could not be bothered to check the oil level before the long drive.
Nia looked at the long queue and decided she could not be bothered waiting.
The old dog could not be bothered to chase the cat and just watched from the porch.
- cannot be arsed
very informal, British slang — do not use in formal writing
- too lazy to
more direct, slightly stronger criticism
- take the trouble
implies making an effort despite difficulty
文法句型
can't be bothered + to-infinitive
can't be bothered + -ing form
用法筆記
This is a fixed expression and does not combine freely with other modal verbs (you cannot say 'won't be bothered'). 'Couldn't be bothered' is past tense. The subject is most often a person, but can also be an animal.
常見錯誤
3. to cause a person to become anxious, uneasy, or upset about something that preoc
to cause a person to become anxious, uneasy, or upset about something that preoccupies their thoughts.
The test results bothered Aarav more than he was willing to admit to his parents.
bother + person (direct object)
It bothered Otis that his younger sister never returned his calls.
it + bother + person + that-clause
Layla was bothered by the strange scratching sound coming from the attic at night.
The doctor's serious tone bothered Nia, even though she tried to stay calm.
Eitan said the rude comment did not bother him, but his face told a different story.
文法句型
bother + person
bother + person + that-clause
be bothered + by
用法筆記
Subject is often an abstract thing (a situation, a thought, a remark) rather than a person. In the passive form ('be bothered by'), the agent is frequently a situation more than a person. Distinguish from sense 4 (annoy): this sense describes internal worry, not external irritation from being interrupted.
常見錯誤
4. to interrupt, pester, or cause trouble for someone, especially in small repeated
to interrupt, pester, or cause trouble for someone, especially in small repeated ways that make them irritated.
Theo's younger brother kept bothering him while he was trying to study for finals.
keep + bothering + person + while-clause (repeated irritation)
Yuna told the telemarketer firmly not to bother her again.
The noisy jackhammer outside bothered everyone in the apartment building.
Eitan asked politely, 'Am I bothering you? I can come back another time.'
João hates it when passengers bother the bus driver with questions about the route.
- leave alone
the opposite of pestering or disturbing
- help
providing assistance instead of causing trouble
文法句型
bother + person
stop bothering + person
keep bothering + person
bother + person + about/with + thing
用法筆記
This sense is commonly used in the continuous form ('you are bothering me'). Unlike sense 3 (worry), the irritation here comes from external actions — noise, interruptions, questions — not from internal worry. Often used in polite requests: 'Sorry to bother you, but...'
常見錯誤
bothering — noun
1. difficulty, extra effort, or small problems that cause inconvenience in everyday
difficulty, extra effort, or small problems that cause inconvenience in everyday life.
João went to all the bother of booking a hotel, but the trip was cancelled anyway.
go to the bother of + -ing
Nia could not see the bother in walking an extra two blocks for better coffee.
see the bother in + -ing (questioning whether something is troublesome)
The parcel arrived three days late, but Aarav said it was no bother at all.
Felipe saved himself a lot of bother by ordering the parts online instead of visiting the shop.
Layla thought the extra paperwork was more bother than it was worth.
- trouble
almost identical; 'trouble' is more common in questions
- inconvenience
more formal, used in polite apologies
- hassle
informal, stronger sense of frustration
- convenience
ease and lack of difficulty
文法句型
be a bother
go to the bother of
save someone the bother
用法筆記
This sense is uncountable — use 'a lot of bother' or 'no bother', never 'a bother' to mean inconvenience (though 'a bother' does work for sense 2, meaning an annoying thing). The phrase 'no bother' is a common polite reply to 'thank you'.
常見錯誤
2. someone or something that is annoying or causes minor problems, often by interru
someone or something that is annoying or causes minor problems, often by interrupting or creating extra work.
Theo's noisy old motorbike is a real bother to the neighbours who work night shifts.
a real bother (emphasising annoyance)
Layla found the long customs queue a bother, but there was no way around it.
find + noun + a bother
Ryan thought the new software update was more of a bother than an improvement.
Niran's old printer is a constant bother — it jams every single time he needs a printout.
Eitan's neighbour is a bit of a bother, always asking to borrow tools he never returns.
文法句型
be a bother
a real bother
用法筆記
Countable — you can say 'a bother' or 'such a bother'. Unlike sense 1 (uncountable trouble), this refers to a specific person or thing. Common in the phrase 'what a bother!' as an exclamation of mild frustration.
常見錯誤
3. a lingering feeling of slight worry or inner irritation that does not go away ea
a lingering feeling of slight worry or inner irritation that does not go away easily.
A faint bother about the unpaid bill lingered in Otis's mind through the whole meeting.
faint bother + about (vague worry)
Eitan expressed his bother over the missing documents to the office manager.
express bother over + noun
The constant drizzle was a quiet source of bother for the couple planning an outdoor wedding.
Nia tried to push aside her bother about the strange email, but the feeling kept coming back.
Yuna felt a small bother every time she passed the empty room at the end of the hall.
- peace of mind
the opposite of lingering worry
文法句型
a source of bother
with bother
用法筆記
This sense is less common in everyday speech than the verb forms. It overlaps with 'worry' but suggests a milder, more vague kind of unease. Often used with adjectives like 'faint', 'small', or 'vague'.