bum

¹

[ buhm ]

noun

1. a person who avoids work and sponges on others; loafer; idler.
2. a tramp, hobo, or derelict.

   Synonyms: vagrant, vagabond

3. Informal. an enthusiast of a specific sport or recreational activity, especially one who gives it priority over work, family life, etc.:

   a ski bum; a tennis bum.

4. Informal. an incompetent person.
5. a drunken orgy; debauch.

verb (used with object)

, bummed, bum·ming.

1. Informal. to borrow without expectation of returning; get for nothing; cadge:

   He's always bumming cigarettes from me.

2. Slang. to ruin or spoil:

   The weather bummed our whole weekend.

verb (used without object)

, bummed, bum·ming.

1. to sponge on others for a living; lead an idle or dissolute life.
2. to live as a hobo.

adjective

, bum·mer, bum·mest.

1. Slang. of poor, wretched, or miserable quality; unsatisfactory:

   I figured $300 was a bum deal for a minor repair, but I paid it anyway.

2. Slang. fraudulent or fake:

   He was accused of issuing a bum check for $2920.

3. Slang. disappointing; unpleasant.
4. Slang. erroneous or ill-advised; misleading:

   I think the gauge is giving me a bum readout.

5. Slang. physically disabled, impaired, or injured:

   a bum leg.

verb phrase

1. Informal. to travel, wander, or spend one's time aimlessly:

   We bummed around for a couple of hours after work.

bum

²

[ buhm ]

noun

, Chiefly British Slang.

1. the buttocks; rump.

bum

¹

/ bʌm /

noun

1. slang.
   the buttocks or anus

bum

²

/ bʌm /

noun

1. a disreputable loafer or idler
2. a tramp; hobo
3. an irresponsible, unpleasant, or mean person
4. a person who spends a great deal of time on a specified sport

   baseball bum

5. on the bum
   1. living as a loafer or vagrant
   2. out of repair; broken

verb

1. tr to get by begging; cadge

   to bum a lift

2. introften foll byaround to live by begging or as a vagrant or loafer
3. intrusually foll byaround to spend time to no good purpose; loaf; idle
4. bum someone off slang.
   to disappoint, annoy, or upset someone

adjective

1. prenominal of poor quality; useless
2. wrong or inappropriate

   a bum note

Word History and Origins

Origin of bum¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1860–65; perhaps a shortening of or back formation from bummer ¹; adjective senses of unclear relation to sense “loafer” and perhaps of distinct origin

Origin of bum²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English bom; of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of bum¹

C14: of uncertain origin

Origin of bum²

C19: probably shortened from earlier bummer a loafer, probably from German bummeln to loaf

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. bum (someone) out, Slang. to disappoint, upset, or annoy:

   It really bummed me out that she could have helped and didn't.

2. on the bum, Informal.
   1. living or traveling as or in a manner suggesting that of a hobo or tramp.
   2. in a state of disrepair or disorder:

      The oven is on the bum again.

More idioms and phrases containing bum

• on the blink (bum)

Example Sentences

From the Yankees’ point of view, Aaron Judge went from hero to superhero to bum all within five innings.

From Los Angeles Times

"On one hand, we now celebrate things like being super curvy or having a tiny waist or a big bum, and that's great because it's not size zero," she says.

From BBC

Hogan said she was “bummed,” but the expansion of the fungus wasn’t unexpected.

From Los Angeles Times

“Initially,” Treinen said, “pretty bummed that I would be the one with an L next to my name.”

From Los Angeles Times

"It was just that kick up the bum that said 'come on, things are going to be alright, it isn’t all doom and gloom, we’re going to have some happiness along the way'," says Charlotte.

From BBC

Related Words

• bottom
• butt
• buttocks