bull
gb/bˈʊl/ us/bˈʊl/
A2
Englisch
~ 6100
Bedeutungen
0 Bedeutungen
Nomen
A2
entity
1
adult male of cattle
An adult male cow or similar large farm animal, often very strong and sometimes dangerous.
Häufiger Fehler:
Learners sometimes use *cow* when they mean a male animal. *Cow* is usually female; *bull* is the adult male. Also, *bull* can be used for some other large animals (a bull elephant, a bull whale), not only cattle.
Synonyme
ox (Refers to a castrated male cattle animal used for work; similar animal but not exactly the same as a bull.)
Antonyme
cow (A fully grown female cattle animal; the usual opposite sex of a bull.)
Wortverbindungen
breeding bull
|angry bull
|charging bull
|raging bull
|bull calf
|fighting bull
Themen
animals
|farming
|nature
Beispiele
- The bull lowered its head and charged at the red cloth.
- Farmers brought their best bull to the agricultural show.
- The matador stood still as the bull ran past him.
- A young bull had escaped from the field and was standing in the road.
- They use a special bull for breeding the herd.
Beispiele für Lernende
- The bull is very big and strong.
- The bull ran quickly across the field.
- People watched the bull in the ring.
- The farmer keeps one bull and many cows.
Nomen
technical
B2
entity
2
investor expecting prices to rise
A person who thinks prices on the stock market will go up and buys or keeps shares because of this; also, a time when prices are going up.
Verwendungsmuster:
a bull on [something]
Häufiger Fehler:
Learners sometimes think *bull* is only an animal and do not realize it is very common in business news. Also, do not confuse *bull* (person or market with rising prices) with *bull market* (the rising market itself) or *bullish* (adjective).
Synonyme
optimist (General word for someone who expects good results; not limited to financial markets like *bull* is.)
Antonyme
bear (In finance, a person who expects prices to fall and sells or shorts assets; the direct opposite of a *bull*.)
Wortverbindungen
bull market
|a bull on tech stocks
|a long-term bull
|big bull
|strong bull run
|bull sentiment
Themen
business
|finance
|economics
Beispiele
- She’s a long-term bull on renewable energy companies.
- The bulls took control of the market after the strong jobs report.
- Even the most aggressive bulls worry about a possible correction.
- Many young investors turned into bulls during the tech boom.
- Some analysts remain bulls on the dollar despite recent volatility.
Beispiele für Lernende
- He is a bull on bank stocks.
- Many bulls think prices will rise next year.
- The bulls are happy because the market is going up.
- Some people are bulls and some people are bears.
Nomen
informal
B2
entity
3
nonsense; lies or rubbish
Informal: things that someone says that are not true, not serious, or stupid; a softer form of the word *bullshit*.
Verwendungsmuster:
(that’s) bull
Häufiger Fehler:
Learners sometimes use *bull* in very formal situations (like academic writing), where it sounds too rude or informal. In those cases, use *nonsense* or *not true* instead. Also, *bull* on its own is usually uncountable in this sense (*That’s bull*, *a lot of bull*), unlike *a bull* for the animal.
Synonyme
nonsense (Neutral and common in all situations; *bull* is stronger and more emotional, and can be a little rude.)
Antonyme
truth (Refers to statements that are accurate and honest, the opposite of speech dismissed as *bull*.)
Wortverbindungen
That’s bull
|pure bull
|a load of bull
|call bull on [something]
|political bull
Themen
communication
|evaluation
|core_vocabulary
Beispiele
- That excuse is total bull and you know it.
- The ad is full of marketing bull and empty promises.
- He tried to feed us some bull about losing the receipts.
- I’m tired of all this political bull on TV.
- Don’t give me that bull about having no time.
Beispiele für Lernende
- That story is bull. I don’t believe it.
- The ad is bull. The product is not that good.
- Stop talking bull and tell me the truth.
- He says he was late because of traffic, but I think it is bull.
Nomen
informal
B2
entity
4
large, strong, forceful man
Informal: a man who is very strong or who moves and acts in a hard, heavy way, like a bull.
Verwendungsmuster:
a real bull
Häufiger Fehler:
Learners sometimes confuse this with the animal sense and translate it too literally. When used for people, it is metaphorical and usually informal. It is normally used for humans, not for other objects (*a bull of a car* is creative but unusual for learners).
Synonyme
brute (Suggests a very strong person who is rough or cruel; *bull* focuses more on size and strength, not always cruelty.)
Antonyme
weakling (A person who is physically weak, the opposite type of body and presence from a *bull*.)
Wortverbindungen
a real bull
|a bull of a man
|built like a bull
|charging like a bull
|strong as a bull
Themen
people
|character
|core_vocabulary
Beispiele
- He’s a bull of a man, but very gentle with his kids.
- The defender was a bull on the field, knocking players aside.
- Built like a bull, she easily lifted the heavy boxes.
- He came charging in like a bull, shouting at everyone.
- You need a bull like him to move that old piano.
Beispiele für Lernende
- He is a bull of a man, very big and strong.
- The player was a bull on the field.
- My uncle is strong as a bull.
- He walked into the room like a bull and broke the chair.
Nomen
formal
C1
entity
5
formal papal document or decree
A very official paper from the Pope that gives an important order or decision in the Catholic Church.
Verwendungsmuster:
a papal bull
Häufiger Fehler:
Learners may think this meaning is related to the animal. It is not; the word comes from Latin *bulla* (seal). This sense is almost always used in the fixed phrase *papal bull*. In everyday conversation it is rare and mostly appears in historical or religious texts.
Synonyme
decree (A general word for an official order; *bull* is a specific type of papal decree.)
Antonyme
informal note (An unofficial, casual written message, which contrasts with the highly formal and official nature of a papal bull.)
Wortverbindungen
papal bull
|issue a bull
|historic bull
|the bull of excommunication
|medieval bull
Themen
religion
|history
|law
Beispiele
- The pope issued a bull condemning the practice.
- A 16th‑century papal bull granted special rights to the university.
- The historians studied a bull from 1493 that divided new lands between Spain and Portugal.
- The reforms were confirmed in a bull published in Rome.
- Access to the original bull is restricted because of its age.
Beispiele für Lernende
- The pope signed a bull about church law.
- We read a very old papal bull in class.
- This bull changed the rules of the church.
- The king waited for a bull from the pope.
Nomen
B2
entity
6
the astrological sign Taurus
In astrology, the sign called Taurus, which has a bull as its symbol, or a person with this star sign.
Verwendungsmuster:
the Bull (Taurus)
Häufiger Fehler:
Learners may not realize that *the Bull* here is a name and usually written with a capital letter when referring to the sign. Also, this usage is limited to astrology or horoscope contexts and is not the normal way to talk about the animal.
Synonyme
Taurus (The standard name of the star sign; *the Bull* is a symbolic name for it.)
Antonyme
Scorpio (A different astrological sign; used here as a contrasting sign in the zodiac, not a strict logical opposite.)
Wortverbindungen
the sign of the Bull
|born under the Bull
|the Bull and the Ram
|the constellation of the Bull
Themen
astrology
|culture
|religion
|core_vocabulary
Beispiele
- In astrology, the Bull is associated with stability and persistence.
- She’s a Bull, born in early May.
- The constellation of the Bull has been known since ancient times.
- The Bull is said to value comfort and security.
- Many people read what the Bull’s horoscope says for the week.
Beispiele für Lernende
- In the zodiac, Taurus is called the Bull.
- He is a Bull, because his birthday is in April.
- The Bull is a star sign in Western astrology.
- People say the Bull likes money and comfort.
Nomen
slang
C1
entity
7
slang for police or guard
Slang and somewhat old‑fashioned: a police officer or prison guard, usually a strong or hard one.
Verwendungsmuster:
a bull came in
Häufiger Fehler:
Learners sometimes think this slang is common in modern everyday speech. In fact, it is more typical of older crime fiction or specific subcultures. In normal modern English, *cop* or *police officer* is more usual.
Synonyme
cop (Very common informal word for police officer; *bull* is less common, more old‑fashioned, and often suggests roughness.)
Antonyme
civilian (A person who is not in the police, military, or similar forces, contrasting with a *bull* in this sense.)
Wortverbindungen
the bulls
|a prison bull
|a railroad bull
|run from the bulls
|bull on patrol
Themen
crime
|law
|communication
Beispiele
- The bulls raided the bar just after midnight.
- He spent years dodging railroad bulls while riding freight trains.
- The prisoners complained that the bulls were too violent.
- One of the bulls stood by the door while the others searched the cell.
- Old crime novels often use the word “bull” for the police.
Beispiele für Lernende
- In this old movie, the gang calls the police the bulls.
- The bulls came into the bar and asked questions.
- He said the bulls at the prison were very hard men.
- In some books, “bull” is slang for a police officer.
Verb
informal
B2
action
8
push forward forcefully
To go forward by pushing hard through people or things, not being careful or gentle.
Verwendungsmuster:
to bull [one’s] way through [something]
Häufiger Fehler:
Learners often try to use *bull* as a general verb for any kind of moving. It is only used for strong, rough movement, usually in fixed phrases like *bull your way through*. For normal movement, use *go*, *walk*, or *move*.
Synonyme
barge (To move in a rough, pushing way; very close in meaning, but *bull* sounds heavier and more forceful.)
Antonyme
edge (To move slowly and carefully, especially through a tight space, which contrasts with *bull*’s rough, forceful movement.)
Wortverbindungen
bull one’s way through the crowd
|bull ahead
|bull into the room
|bull right past [someone]
|bull straight through
Themen
movement
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Beispiele
- He bulled his way through the crowd to get to the stage.
- She just bulled right into the meeting without knocking.
- The truck bulled through the snowdrifts blocking the road.
- They bulled ahead with the plan despite strong objections.
- He bulled past security before anyone could stop him.
Beispiele für Lernende
- He bulled his way through the line of people.
- The man bulled into the room without a word.
- The car bulled through the deep snow.
- They bulled ahead with the project, even when others said no.
Verb
informal
C1
action
9
pressure or intimidate someone
Informal: to make someone do something by being very strong and forceful with them, not by asking politely.
Verwendungsmuster:
to bull [someone] into [doing something]
Häufiger Fehler:
Learners may confuse *bull* and *bully*. *Bully* is the normal verb; *bull* is rarer and mostly appears in fixed phrases like *bull someone into doing something* or *bull your way in*. Also, this verb is informal and often sounds quite negative or aggressive.
Synonyme
bully (More common verb for hurting or pressuring someone; *bull* is less common and sounds rougher and more physical.)
Antonyme
persuade (To cause someone to do something by giving reasons and arguments, the opposite of using raw pressure like *bull* suggests.)
Wortverbindungen
bull someone into doing something
|bull his way into a deal
|trying to bull her into it
|bull your boss into agreeing
Themen
social
|conflict
|relationships
|communication
Beispiele
- He tried to bull me into signing the contract on the spot.
- Don’t let them bull you into accepting a lower salary.
- She refused to be bulled into changing her story.
- The company can’t just bull its way into the market without local support.
- You can’t bull people into trusting you.
Beispiele für Lernende
- He tried to bull her into taking the job.
- They will not bull me into saying yes.
- Don’t let anyone bull you into doing something you hate.
- You cannot bull your friends into agreeing with you.
Grammatik
Grundform
bull
IPA
GB/bˈʊl/
US/bˈʊl/
Silben & Betonung
bull (1 Silbe)
Stress on 1st syllable (bull)
Wortformen
Noun
- Base: bull
- Plural: bull, bulls
Verb
- Base: bull
- 3rd Person Singular: bulls
- Present Participle: bulling
- Past: bulled
Wortfamilie
Ausdrücke
bull market
1/bˈʊl mˈɑɹkɪt/
fixed phrase
technical
period of generally rising prices
A time in the financial market when prices of shares and other assets are going up and many investors feel confident.
Beispiele
- After years of slow growth, a new bull market in tech stocks began.
- Many small investors entered the market during the long bull market.
- Analysts are unsure how long the current bull market can last.
bull run
1/bˈʊl ɹˈʌn/
fixed phrase
technical
strong, continued rise in prices
A period of time when prices in a financial market go up a lot and keep going up.
Beispiele
- The long bull run in housing prices has made homes very expensive.
- Investors worry that the bull run in cryptocurrencies may soon end.
- We’re in the middle of a powerful bull run in energy stocks.
bull session
1/bˈʊl sˈɛʃən/
idiom
informal
informal, free conversation or discussion
An informal, relaxed talk where people speak freely, often for a long time, about ideas, plans, or personal things.
Beispiele
- We stayed up late having a bull session about politics and music.
- College students love late‑night bull sessions in the dorm.
- The meeting turned into a friendly bull session after the main agenda was done.
bull’s-eye
1/bˈʊlz ˈaɪ/
idiom
the exact center or perfect hit
The exact center of a target; also, a shot or action that hits exactly the right place or result.
Beispiele
- She hit the bull’s-eye with her first arrow.
- The marketing campaign was a bull’s-eye, reaching exactly the right customers.
- Your answer was a bull’s-eye—exactly what I was looking for.
like a bull in a china shop
1/lˈaɪk ə bˈʊl ˈɪn ə t͡ʃˈaɪnə ʃˈɑp/
idiom
very clumsy or tactless in a delicate situation
To move or act in a way that is very clumsy or not careful in a situation where you need to be gentle or polite.
Beispiele
- He’s charming with friends but in meetings he’s like a bull in a china shop.
- She handled the sensitive negotiation like a bull in a china shop and upset everyone.
- Don’t go into that discussion like a bull in a china shop; be polite and calm.
shoot the bull
1/ʃˈut ðə bˈʊl/
idiom
informal
talk idly or casually
To talk in a relaxed way about unimportant things, just for fun.
Beispiele
- We just sat on the porch and shot the bull all afternoon.
- They like to meet on Fridays to shoot the bull over a few beers.
- Instead of working, they spent an hour shooting the bull in the break room.
strong as a bull
1/stɹˈɔŋ ˈæz ə bˈʊl/
idiom
extremely physically strong
Very strong physically.
Beispiele
- Even in his seventies, my grandfather was strong as a bull.
- You’ll need someone strong as a bull to move that piano.
- The new fitness trainer is strong as a bull and very energetic.
cock and bull story
1/kˈɑk ˈænd bˈʊl stˈɔɹi/
idiom
informal
Unbelievable made-up story
A silly story that is not true, often told to explain something.
Beispiele
- He came up with some cock and bull story about why he was late.
- He gave the police some cock and bull story about being kidnapped by aliens.
- That excuse is just a cock and bull story.
- That’s a cock and bull story if I ever heard one.
- The company’s excuse for the delay sounded like a cock and bull story.
take the bull by the horns
1/tˈeɪk ðə bˈʊl bˈaɪ ðə hˈɔɹnz/
idiom
face a problem bravely and directly
To deal with a difficult or scary problem in a direct and brave way, instead of waiting or hiding.
Beispiele
- It was time to take the bull by the horns and talk to his boss about the mistake.
- It's time to take the bull by the horns and talk to your boss about the issue.
- She finally took the bull by the horns and ended the unhealthy relationship.
- She took the bull by the horns and called the customer to apologize.
- The government must take the bull by the horns and reform the tax system.