bull
- noun
- /bʊl/
- Offensive
- When the party got out of control, the bull showed up to break it up.
Now, reports from the bull are we got a report back from the bull.
- Now, reports from the bull are we got a report back from the bull.
Examples
-
The usual prison bull.
-
The chief bull.
Fiction book (1998) -
I am a cop, not a bull.
-
I'll distract the bull, you grab the money.
-
The rail yards were patrolled by "bulls," guards paid by the railroad companies.
Academic text (2011) -
The fact that he was calling Bosch and his team in instead of the RHD bulls was the puzzle.
Fiction book (1998) -
The guards holler their head counts to the head bull, who jots on a clipboard.
Fiction book (1994) -
He was angry when the bull started checking IDs at the door.
-
They warned us to keep quiet when the bull was on patrol nearby.
Synonyms
A person who works for the police
An insulting name for a police officer used in anger
A police officer who keeps people safe and enforces laws
An informal name for a police officer
A British slang word for a police officer
Idioms
- Informal
A clumsy or careless person who causes damage in delicate situations
Doing something suddenly and forcefully without thinking because you are very eager
- Informal
Talk in a relaxed, joking way and make stories bigger to be funny
Compounds
- Specialized
A time when stock prices rise and many people who buy shares feel confident
- Specialized
A large aggressive shark that lives in warm shallow water near coasts and in rivers
An early Civil War battle in Virginia where Confederate forces defeat Union troops
A strong, muscular dog breed from the United States with a short coat and high energy
A former US political party started by Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 that supported progressive reforms
- Indian
A large deer-like animal from India whose male has a blue-grey coat and whose female is brown and hornless
- US
A tree that keeps its leaves all year with large shiny leaves and big white fragrant flowers
- US
A rough prickly plant from North America with pale yellow flowers and small berries
- US
A tall pine tree with dark green needles in groups of two to five and thick dark bark when mature
- US
A large North American snake that eats rodents, lives in burrows, and is not venomous
A major early Civil War battle fought in July 1861 near Manassas, Virginia that the Confederate army won
- Slur
A lesbian woman who is openly confident, shows a masculine style, and takes back an offensive name
A strong, medium-sized English dog with a stocky body, smooth coat, and friendly nature
How Offensive
Surface Forms
Etymology
A helpful way to remember the slang bull for a policeman is to think of an officer who pushes people around like a bull, even though this use comes from old street slang.