bugaboo
6
9.6
- noun
- /ˈbʌɡəˌbu/
:
fantasma
- For some students, the fear of failing a test is a constant bugaboo that disrupts their ability to study effectively.
- a big bugaboo
- an old bugaboo
- other bugaboos
One is the bugaboo of the intergovernmental debt.
- One is the bugaboo of the intergovernmental debt.
Examples
-
Rather, it's the old NIMBY bugaboo.
Academic text (2011) -
Long before it was popular to criticize Fannie and Freddie, they were Mr. Wallison's bugaboo.
Blog text (8) -
In my case, my biggest bugaboo is fear of success.
Blog text (25) -
Part of the bugaboo for me is the expectation that all questions must have answers.
Blog text (26) -
One is the bugaboo of the intergovernmental debt.
-
One of Einstein's biggest bugaboos.
Fiction book (2001) -
You should mention this one, as it's a big bugaboo of the feminists, and few put it into its context (survival).
Blog text (5) -
Maybe it's that old female bugaboo rearing its ugly head—fear of success.
Fiction book (1995) -
The dark corner of the basement became a bugaboo for the children, who were too scared to go down there alone.
-
Many people regard public speaking as a bugaboo that causes them great anxiety before any presentation.
Synonyms
34
8.1
An imaginary monster adults mention to scare children into behaving
25
7.4
A made-up creature adults tell children about to scare them when they misbehave
15
9.9
An imaginary creature parents mention to frighten children
3
9.9
Something people fear or worry about even when it is not real
1
9.9
An imaginary monster used to frighten children
Something people see as a threat that causes fear or worry
Antonyms
How Worrying
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word bugaboo probably comes from the old word bug meaning 'goblin' or 'scary thing' and the shout boo used to 'frighten' people. So a bugaboo is an imagined monster or worry that scares you even when it is not real.