bully
To bully means to be bad to someone. You use your strength to make them do what you want. It is not nice. Do not bully your friends. Be kind to everyone at school.
When you bully someone, you act in a mean way. You might say mean things or push them. This is wrong because it makes the other person feel sad or scared. We should always try to stop bullying when we see it happening.
To bully someone is to use your power to intimidate them. This often happens repeatedly. For example, a student might bully a classmate to get their lunch money. It creates an unfair situation where one person feels they have no choice but to listen to the bully.
The verb bully describes a pattern of behavior where an individual uses their influence or strength to coerce others. This often involves an imbalance of power, making it difficult for the victim to defend themselves. It is a serious issue in workplaces and schools, often requiring intervention from authorities.
To bully is to exert undue pressure or aggression to manipulate outcomes. Beyond physical intimidation, it encompasses psychological warfare, such as social exclusion or verbal abuse, designed to undermine a person's confidence. In academic and professional settings, it is recognized as a toxic behavior that destroys morale and creates a hostile environment.
Etymologically, bully has undergone a fascinating semantic shift from a term of endearment to a descriptor of tyranny. In contemporary usage, it signifies the deliberate exploitation of power dynamics to subjugate others. Whether manifested as workplace harassment or systemic coercion, the act of bullying is fundamentally an abuse of agency. Recognizing and deconstructing these power imbalances is essential for fostering equitable social structures.
bully في 30 ثانية
- Bully means to intimidate.
- It involves an imbalance of power.
- It is often repeated behavior.
- It is a serious, negative term.
When you hear the word bully, you probably think of someone being mean on a playground. As a verb, it describes the act of using your power, size, or influence to push someone else around.
It is not just about one bad day; it usually implies a pattern of aggressive behavior. Whether it is a boss intimidating an employee or a student picking on a peer, the core of bullying is the imbalance of power. The person doing the bullying wants to force the other person to do something or simply make them feel small.
The history of bully is actually quite surprising! In the 16th century, the word didn't mean a mean person at all. It was actually a term of endearment, like 'sweetheart' or 'darling,' coming from the Middle Dutch word boele, meaning 'lover.'
Over time, the meaning shifted drastically. By the 17th century, it began to refer to a 'fine fellow' or a 'blusterer,' and eventually, it evolved into the modern sense of a cowardly tyrant who picks on those weaker than themselves. It is a classic example of a word's definition doing a complete 180-degree turn over a few hundred years.
You will most often hear bully used in social or professional contexts. It is a strong, negative word that carries a lot of weight. You might say, 'Don't let them bully you into making a bad decision.'
It is frequently used with prepositions like 'into' to describe the result of the intimidation. While it is common in casual conversation, it is also a serious term used in HR policies and school handbooks to describe unacceptable conduct.
While 'bully' itself isn't always in an idiom, it appears in phrases like bully pulpit, which refers to a public office that provides its occupant with an outstanding opportunity to speak out on any issue. Another is bully for you, which is an old-fashioned, sarcastic way of saying 'good for you.' We also use cyberbully to describe modern digital harassment.
As a regular verb, the past tense is bullied and the present participle is bullying. It follows standard English rules. In terms of pronunciation, it is /ˈbʊli/ in both British and American English, rhyming with 'fully' or 'gully.'
The stress is always on the first syllable. It is a transitive verb, meaning it needs an object—you don't just 'bully,' you 'bully someone.' Keep that in mind when building your sentences!
حقيقة ممتعة
It went from a term of affection to a term of abuse.
دليل النطق
- Pronouncing it like 'bull' + 'y'
- Adding an extra syllable
- Misplacing the stress
مستوى الصعوبة
Easy to understand.
Simple to use.
Commonly used.
Easy to hear.
ماذا تتعلّم بعد ذلك
المتطلبات الأساسية
تعلّم لاحقاً
متقدم
قواعد يجب معرفتها
Transitive Verbs
He bullies me.
Passive Voice
I was bullied.
Gerunds
Bullying is wrong.
أمثلة حسب المستوى
Do not bully your friends.
Do not be mean.
Imperative form.
He is a bully.
He is mean.
Noun usage.
She does not bully.
She is nice.
Negative verb.
Bullying is bad.
It is wrong.
Gerund subject.
They bully me.
They are mean to me.
Simple present.
Stop the bully!
Make it end.
Imperative.
We help people.
We are kind.
Contrast.
Be a friend.
Be nice.
Positive command.
Don't let them bully you.
He was bullied at school.
Why do you bully him?
Bullying makes people sad.
The older kids bullied the younger ones.
She stood up to the bully.
It is wrong to bully others.
They stopped bullying the boy.
He felt bullied by his boss.
They were bullied into signing the contract.
Cyberbullying is a growing problem.
She refused to be bullied.
The company has a no-bullying policy.
He bullied his way to the top.
Don't be bullied by peer pressure.
They were bullied for their beliefs.
The manager was accused of bullying staff.
She was bullied into silence by her colleagues.
It takes courage to stand up to a bully.
The school implemented a strict anti-bullying program.
He used his status to bully others.
They were bullied by the system.
She felt bullied by the aggressive questioning.
Bullying behavior is often a sign of insecurity.
The politician bullied his opponents into submission.
She was bullied by the relentless demands of her job.
Systemic bullying can lead to workplace burnout.
He was bullied by the sheer weight of public opinion.
The coach bullied the players to perform better.
She felt bullied by the intense social expectations.
They were bullied by the harsh reality of the market.
Bullying is an insidious form of manipulation.
The regime bullied its citizens into compliance.
He bullied his way through the negotiations.
The subtle art of bullying involves psychological coercion.
She was bullied by the weight of her own expectations.
The corporate culture was rife with institutional bullying.
He bullied the witnesses to change their testimony.
The bullies were eventually held accountable.
Her resilience prevented her from being bullied.
تلازمات شائعة
تعبيرات اصطلاحية
"bully pulpit"
A position of authority that allows one to influence public opinion.
The President uses the bully pulpit to push for change.
formal"bully for you"
An exclamation of approval (often sarcastic).
So you finally finished your homework? Bully for you!
informal"push around"
To bully or treat someone roughly.
Don't let anyone push you around.
casual"pick on"
To choose someone to bully.
Why do you always pick on your brother?
casual"throw weight around"
To use one's influence to bully others.
He loves to throw his weight around the office.
idiomaticسهل الخلط
similar spelling
bull is an animal
The bull ran in the field.
similar spelling
bully is a person
He is a bully.
similar meaning
intimidate is more formal
He intimidated the team.
similar meaning
harass implies persistence
Stop harassing me.
أنماط الجُمل
Subject + bully + object
He bullies his peers.
Subject + be + bullied + by + agent
She was bullied by him.
Subject + bully + object + into + gerund
They bullied him into leaving.
Subject + refuse + to + be + bullied
I refuse to be bullied.
Subject + use + power + to + bully
He uses his power to bully.
عائلة الكلمة
الأسماء
الأفعال
الصفات
مرتبط
كيفية الاستخدام
-
Using 'bully' as a noun for a victim
→
Use 'victim'
A bully is the person doing the harm.
-
Saying 'bully to someone'
→
bully someone
Bully is a transitive verb.
-
Confusing 'bully' with 'bull'
→
Use 'bully' for the person
Bull is the animal.
-
Using 'bully' to mean 'strong'
→
Use 'strong' or 'powerful'
Bully has a negative connotation.
-
Forgetting the past tense 'bullied'
→
bullied
It needs the -ed ending.
نصائح
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a bull pushing someone.
When Native Speakers Use It
In serious discussions.
Cultural Insight
Zero-tolerance policies.
Grammar Shortcut
It is a transitive verb.
Say It Right
Keep the 'u' short.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't confuse it with 'bull'.
Did You Know?
It used to mean sweetheart!
Study Smart
Use it in a sentence about boundaries.
Writing Tip
Be specific about the behavior.
Speaking Tip
Use a serious tone.
احفظها
وسيلة تذكّر
B-U-L-L-Y: Being Unkind Leads to Lonesome Years.
ربط بصري
A large person pushing a smaller person on a playground.
Word Web
تحدٍّ
Write a story about standing up to a bully.
أصل الكلمة
Middle Dutch
المعنى الأصلي: Lover or sweetheart
السياق الثقافي
Extremely negative; avoid using lightly.
Highly sensitive topic in schools and workplaces.
تدرّب في الحياة الواقعية
سياقات واقعية
at school
- stop the bullying
- tell a teacher
- bully on the playground
at work
- workplace bully
- report harassment
- hostile environment
online
- cyberbullying
- block the user
- report the post
legal
- anti-bullying laws
- harassment policy
- legal action
بدايات محادثة
"Have you ever stood up to a bully?"
"What should schools do about bullying?"
"Is cyberbullying worse than physical bullying?"
"How can we teach kids to be kind?"
"Why do you think people become bullies?"
مواضيع للكتابة اليومية
Write about a time you saw someone being treated unfairly.
How does it feel to be bullied?
What are the qualities of a good friend?
How can we create a kinder community?
الأسئلة الشائعة
8 أسئلةYes, it describes negative behavior.
Usually, we use 'aggressive' for animals.
Bullying using digital devices.
Tell an adult or authority figure.
It can be, depending on the severity.
Yes, with proper guidance.
Only if they are actually engaging in the behavior.
An advocate or protector.
اختبر نفسك
The ___ is being mean to the small boy.
The bully is the one being mean.
What does it mean to bully someone?
Bullying is intentional mean behavior.
A bully is usually someone who feels powerful.
Bullies often use power to intimidate.
Word
المعنى
Synonyms and antonyms.
He was bullied at school.
النتيجة: /5
Summary
Bullying is the misuse of power to harm others, and it is never acceptable.
- Bully means to intimidate.
- It involves an imbalance of power.
- It is often repeated behavior.
- It is a serious, negative term.
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a bull pushing someone.
When Native Speakers Use It
In serious discussions.
Cultural Insight
Zero-tolerance policies.
Grammar Shortcut
It is a transitive verb.
مثال
He tried to bully his younger brother into doing his chores for him.
محتوى ذو صلة
قواعد ذات صلة
مزيد من كلمات Social
abanthropate
C1Describes a state of being removed from, or having lost, the essential qualities and characteristics of humanity. It is often used in philosophical or literary contexts to describe a person or entity that has transcended or been alienated from the human condition.
abhospence
C1A rare or formal term describing the state or act of lacking hospitality, or the deliberate withdrawal of a welcoming attitude towards guests or outsiders. It refers to a cold, inhospitable atmosphere or a specific instance where a host fails to provide expected comforts or kindness.
abjudtude
C1The state or quality of being formally rejected, cast off, or disowned through an authoritative or judicial decision. It refers to a condition of absolute renunciation where a person or entity is stripped of their previous status or rights.
abphobship
C1A formal adjective describing a systemic and deep-seated aversion to institutional hierarchies or organized authority figures. It is frequently applied in sociological and organizational contexts to describe individuals or movements that intentionally distance themselves from formal power structures.
abstinence
B2القرار الواعي بالامتناع عن ممارسة رغبة معينة، مثل شرب الكحول أو تناول أطعمة معينة، كنوع من الانضباط الذاتي.
abtactship
C1هو حالة عدم وجود اتصال جسدي أو مادي. يُستخدم لوصف علاقة ليست ملموسة أو جسدية.
abtrudship
C1To forcefully impose one's leadership, authority, or specific set of rules onto a group without their consent or prior consultation. It describes the act of thrusting a structured way of doing things upon others in a dominant or intrusive manner.
abvictious
C1To strategically yield or concede a minor position or advantage in order to ensure a greater ultimate victory. It describes a sophisticated form of success achieved through intentional, calculated loss or withdrawal.
abvolism
C1هو الابتعاد المتعمد عن الأعراف الاجتماعية لتحقيق استقلال تام للفرد.
acceptance
B2Acceptance is the act of agreeing to an offer, plan, or invitation, or the process of being received into a group or society. It also refers to the willingness to tolerate a difficult situation or the state of being approved by others.
