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bully

   Also found in: Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.05 sec.
bul·ly 1  (bl)
n. pl. bul·lies
1. A person who is habitually cruel or overbearing, especially to smaller or weaker people.
2. A hired ruffian; a thug.
3. A pimp.
4. Archaic A fine person.
5. Archaic A sweetheart.
v. bul·lied, bul·ly·ing, bul·lies
v.tr.
1. To treat in an overbearing or intimidating manner. See Synonyms at intimidate.
2. To make (one's way) aggressively.
v.intr.
1. To behave like a bully.
2. To force one's way aggressively or by intimidation: "They bully into line at the gas pump" Martin Gottfried.
adj.
Excellent; splendid: did a bully job of persuading the members.
interj.
Used to express approval: Bully for you!

[Possibly from Middle Dutch boele, sweetheart, probably alteration of broeder, brother; see bhrter- in Indo-European roots.]

bully
Noun
pl -lies
a person who hurts, persecutes, or intimidates weaker people
Verb
[-lies, -lying, -lied]
to hurt, intimidate, or persecute (a weaker or smaller person)
interj
bully for you or him, etc Informal well done! bravo!: now usually used sarcastically [originally, sweetheart, fine fellow, swaggering coward, probably from Middle Dutch boele lover]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.bullybully - a cruel and brutal fellow
aggressor, assailant, assaulter, attacker - someone who attacks
bullyboy - a swaggering tough; usually one acting as an agent of a political faction
muscleman, muscle - a bully employed as a thug or bodyguard; "the drug lord had his muscleman to protect him"
skinhead - a young person who belongs to a British or American group that shave their heads and gather at rock concerts or engage in white supremacist demonstrations
plug-ugly, tough guy - someone who bullies weaker people
2.bully - a hired thug
hood, hoodlum, punk, strong-armer, thug, toughie, goon, tough - an aggressive and violent young criminal
Verb1.bully - be bossy towards; "Her big brother always bullied her when she was young"
intimidate - make timid or fearful; "Her boss intimidates her"
domineer, tyrannise, tyrannize - rule or exercise power over (somebody) in a cruel and autocratic manner; "her husband and mother-in-law tyrannize her"
2.bully - discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner; intimidate
blarney, cajole, coax, inveigle, sweet-talk, wheedle, palaver - influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering; "He palavered her into going along"
Adj.1.bully - very good; "he did a bully job"; "a neat sports car"; "had a great time at the party"; "you look simply smashing"
colloquialism - a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech
good - having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified; "good news from the hospital"; "a good report card"; "when she was good she was very very good"; "a good knife is one good for cutting"; "this stump will make a good picnic table"; "a good check"; "a good joke"; "a good exterior paint"; "a good secretary"; "a good dress for the office"

bully
Translations
Spanish bully [ˈbulɪ] nvalentón m; matón m
French bully [ˈbulɪ] nbrute f, tyran m
vttyranniser, rudoyer (= frighten); intimider

German bully [ˈbulɪ] nTyrann m
(frighten) → einschüchtern

Italian bully [ˈbulɪ] nprepotente m
vtangariare (= frighten); intimidire

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I know whom I may bully and whom I must flatter; and I thus prolong my life to a good old age.
I knew that boy at school; he took great airs on himself because he was a farmer's son; he used to swagger about and bully the little boys.
``Come, trowl the brown bowl to me, Bully boy, bully boy, Come, trowl the brown bowl to me: Ho
 
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