bum
/bʌm/ (bre, ipa) · /bʌm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbəm/ (ame, mw)
bum — noun
- bumsingular
- bumsplural
1. the soft back part of your body that rests on a seat when you sit down.
the soft back part of your body that rests on a seat when you sit down.
The toddler landed on his bum after missing the last stair.
land on your bum — common result pattern after a fall
Beatriz rubbed her sore bum after the long bike ride home.
The cold bench made Paul shift his bum every few minutes.
At the beach, Hao brushed sand off his bum before sitting in the car.
用法筆記
Common in casual speech. In more polite or medical contexts, speakers usually choose bottom, backside, or buttocks instead.
常見錯誤
2. a person with no settled home or regular job who survives by begging or dependin
a person with no settled home or regular job who survives by begging or depending on other people's help.
Outside the bakery, Imani gave a bum a cup of hot tea.
give a bum [food/drink] — typical charity scene
The old bum slept under the bridge with two blankets and a shopping cart.
A bum asked Reuben for bus fare near the night market.
Volunteers knew the bum by name and saved him soup each evening.
- homeless person
neutral and respectful modern term
- beggar
focuses on asking strangers for money
- vagrant
more formal and often legal in tone
- householder
someone with an established home
- worker
someone with regular employment
用法筆記
This word is old-fashioned and often insulting. In neutral real-world discussion, homeless person is usually the safer choice.
常見錯誤
3. someone who avoids work and expects other people to support them or do things fo
someone who avoids work and expects other people to support them or do things for them.
Sahil's uncle called him a bum when he quit three jobs in one month.
call someone a bum — direct criticism of laziness
Everyone in the flat was tired of the bum who never washed dishes.
After noon, the two bums were still on the sofa playing video games.
Noor refused to lend money to her cousin, calling him a bum.
- freeloader
emphasizes living off other people's money or effort
- moocher
focuses on always asking for small favors or free things
- slacker
suggests avoiding work or effort
- hard worker
someone who works steadily and responsibly
- self-supporting person
someone who provides for themselves
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (STREET BEGGAR): this sense criticizes idleness or living off others, not homelessness itself.
常見錯誤
bum — adjective
- bumpositive
- bummercomparative
- bummestsuperlative
1. poor, unfair, unpleasant, or not working properly in a way that makes something
poor, unfair, unpleasant, or not working properly in a way that makes something disappointing.
A bum knee kept Christopher off the football field for six weeks.
a bum + body part — means injured or not working well
We got a bum deal and paid extra for a room without windows.
a bum deal — common fixed phrase for something unfair
The old radio has a bum switch, so it only works sometimes.
After that bum movie, Yael wanted her money back from the theater.
文法句型
a bum + [deal/knee/switch/movie]
用法筆記
Very informal. The exact shade comes from the noun that follows: a bum deal is unfair, a bum knee is damaged, and a bum switch does not work properly.
常見錯誤
bum — verb
- bumpresent simple I / you / we / they
- bums3rd person singular
- bumming-ing form
- bummedpast simple
1. to talk someone into giving you something for free as a favor, with no plan to r
to talk someone into giving you something for free as a favor, with no plan to repay them.
Nikos bummed a cigarette from the drummer behind the club.
bum + something + from someone — core transitive pattern
After lunch, Beatriz bummed ten dollars off her brother for bus fare.
bum + money + off someone — common alternative preposition
Hao tried to bum a ride home when the last train was canceled.
At the festival, Paul kept bumming chips from anyone with an open bag.
文法句型
bum + [money/cigarette/ride] + from/off + someone
用法筆記
The thing wanted is the direct object, and the person usually comes after from or off. It often suggests casual, shameless asking rather than real need.
常見錯誤
2. to spend time doing nothing useful, often hanging around a place or drifting abo
to spend time doing nothing useful, often hanging around a place or drifting about without a plan.
During summer break, Indra bummed around the harbor with his cousins.
bum around + place — typical wandering pattern
The band bummed about town all afternoon before the evening show.
bum about town — British-flavored variant with about
On Sunday, Christopher just bummed on the couch and watched cooking videos.
After losing his job, Reuben spent a week bumming around and sleeping late.
- loaf
focuses on doing nothing useful
- lounge around
suggests lazy time spent resting in one place
- hang around
neutral informal phrase for staying somewhere without purpose
- work steadily
spend time doing useful tasks
- hurry
move with purpose instead of idling
文法句型
bum around/about + place
bum on + furniture
用法筆記
Usually appears with around or about when someone wanders casually, or with on when someone lies around doing nothing. It does not necessarily imply homelessness.