bully
gb/bˈʊli/ us/bˈʊli/
B1
English
~ 8900
zaklató, erőszakoskodó, zaklat, bántalmaz, szekál, rákényszerít, remek, bravó
NOUN
B1
1
zaklató
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a bully at [school/work]
The new student quickly became a target for the school bully.
Az új diák hamar az iskolai zaklató célpontjává vált.
Nobody wanted to report the office bully because they were afraid of losing their jobs.
Senki sem akarta jelenteni a munkahelyi zaklatót, mert féltek, hogy elveszítik az állásukat.
Online bullies often hide behind fake names and profiles.
As a child, he was a bully, but as an adult he now speaks out against bullying.
The small countries accused the powerful nation of acting like a global bully.
Learner examples
There is a bully in my class who hits other kids.
Az osztályomban van egy erőszakoskodó gyerek, aki megüti a többi gyereket.
Her brother was a bully when he was young.
A fiútestvére fiatal korában erőszakoskodó volt.
The bully took my lunch every day.
Teachers must stop the bully before someone gets hurt.
No one wants to sit with the bully at lunch.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'bully' (the person) with 'bullying' (the behavior). Use 'He is a bully' for the person and 'He is bullying me' for the action.
Meaning
person who hurts weaker people
Collocations
school bully
|playground bully
|online bully
|office bully
|neighborhood bully
Synonyms
tormentor (Stresses causing ongoing pain or suffering, often emotional, not only physical power.)
|
harasser (Common in legal or workplace contexts, focuses on unwanted, repeated behavior.)
|
oppressor (Stronger and more formal; often used for powerful groups or governments, not just individuals.)
Antonyms
protector (Describes someone who uses their strength to keep others safe instead of hurting them.)
|
defender (Focuses on standing up for weaker people rather than attacking them.)
Themes
daily life
|education
|relationships
|conflict
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Someone who is often mean or cruel to weaker people and tries to scare or hurt them on purpose.
A person who repeatedly uses strength, power, or influence to harm, frighten, or control people who are weaker or less powerful.
VERB
B1
2
Usage pattern:
to bully [someone]
The older boys used to bully him on the bus every day.
Az idősebb fiúk régebben mindennap zaklatták a buszon.
She was bullied for years because of her accent.
Az akcentusa miatt éveken át zaklatták.
Some kids bully others online because they think no one will find out.
He admitted that he had bullied several classmates when he was younger.
Teachers are required to report any student who bullies another child.
Learner examples
The big boy likes to bully smaller children.
A nagyobb fiú szeret kisebb gyerekeket szekálni.
They bullied him because he wore glasses.
Azért szekálták, mert szemüveget viselt.
Please tell a teacher if someone bullies you.
I do not bully people; I try to be kind.
She was bullied at school and felt very alone.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *'He bullied on me'* instead of 'He bullied me.' The verb 'bully' takes a direct object without a preposition: 'bully someone', not 'bully on someone'.
Meaning
to harm or scare weaker people
Collocations
bully someone
|bully younger kids
|bully classmates
|bully others online
|bully and threaten
Synonyms
torment (Emphasizes causing long-lasting pain or distress, often emotional.)
|
pick on (More informal; often used when the bullying is less violent but still unfair and repeated.)
|
intimidate (Focuses more on making someone feel afraid than on repeated actions.)
Antonyms
protect (Means to keep someone safe instead of hurting or scaring them.)
|
support (Means to help and encourage someone rather than attack them.)
Themes
daily life
|education
|relationships
|conflict
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To be mean or cruel to someone weaker and try to scare or hurt them again and again.
To use strength, power, or influence, especially repeatedly, to hurt, frighten, or dominate someone weaker.
VERB
B2
3
rákényszerít
B2
Usage pattern:
to bully [someone] into [doing something]
The manager tried to bully her into working all weekend without extra pay.
A vezető megpróbálta megfélemlítéssel rákényszeríteni arra, hogy egész hétvégén külön fizetség nélkül dolgozzon.
They were bullied into signing the unfair contract.
Megfélemlítéssel rákényszerítették őket az igazságtalan szerződés aláírására.
He refuses to be bullied into changing his vote.
The company attempted to bully local residents into accepting the new development.
We will not be bullied into making a quick decision.
Learner examples
He bullied his friend into lying for him.
Fenyegetéssel rákényszerítette a barátját, hogy hazudjon az érdekében.
She was bullied into paying more money.
Megfélemlítéssel rákényszerítették, hogy több pénzt fizessen.
Do not let anyone bully you into doing something you hate.
They tried to bully us into leaving the room.
I will not be bullied into saying yes.
Common mistake:
Learners may forget the preposition 'into' and say *'bully someone do something'*. The common pattern is 'bully [someone] into [doing something]'.
Meaning
to force someone by threats
Collocations
bully someone into
|bully into accepting
|bully into signing
|bully into submission
|try to bully
Synonyms
coerce (More formal and legal; strongly focuses on being forced to do something against one’s will.)
|
pressure (Can be softer than 'bully', and may not always involve open threats.)
|
strong-arm (Informal; suggests physical or very aggressive pressure.)
Antonyms
persuade (Means to lead someone to agree by giving reasons, not by threatening them.)
|
encourage (Means to gently support someone’s choice rather than push them against their will.)
Themes
relationships
|business
|conflict
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make someone do something by scaring them or being very aggressive, not by asking politely.
To force or pressure someone to do something by using threats, aggression, or strong intimidation.
C1
ARCHAIC
4
remek
A2
Usage pattern:
a bully [idea/time/show]
We had a bully time at the fair, didn’t we?
Remekül éreztük magunkat a vásáron, ugye?
He called it a bully idea and agreed at once.
Remek ötletnek nevezte, és azonnal beleegyezett.
In the old novel, the hero shouts, "What a bully good show!"
Learner examples
The old man said it was a bully plan.
Az öregember azt mondta, hogy ez remek terv.
In that movie, one man says, "This is a bully job!"
Abban a filmben az egyik férfi azt mondja: „Ez remek munka!”
People do not use 'bully' to mean 'excellent' in modern speech.
Common mistake:
Learners may wrongly use this old meaning in modern speech. Today, 'bully' almost always has a negative meaning about hurting or scaring people. Avoid using 'bully' to mean 'excellent' except when reading or talking about old texts.
Meaning
very good; excellent (old-fashioned)
Collocations
a bully idea
|a bully time
|a bully good show
Synonyms
excellent (Modern, neutral term; widely used instead of the old-fashioned 'bully'.)
|
splendid (Somewhat old-fashioned but still more common today than 'bully' in this sense.)
Antonyms
terrible (Modern, informal opposite meaning very bad.)
|
awful (Common informal opposite for something very bad.)
Themes
core_vocabulary
Definition
Very good or great in quality. (Old-fashioned.)
Very good, excellent, or first-rate.
C1
ARCHAIC
5
bravó
A2
“Bully!” he cried when he heard the news of their victory.
„Bravó!” – kiáltotta, amikor meghallotta a győzelmük hírét.
In old films, characters sometimes shout, “Bully for you!” to show approval.
Régi filmekben a szereplők néha azt kiáltják: „Bravó!”, hogy kifejezzék az elismerésüket.
The politician reportedly exclaimed, “Bully!” after the plan passed.
Learner examples
In old books, a man may shout, "Bully!"
Régi könyvekben előfordulhat, hogy egy férfi azt kiáltja: „Bravó!”
People used to say, "Bully for you!" when they were happy for someone.
Régen az emberek azt mondták: „Bravó!”, amikor örültek valaki sikerének.
Today, most speakers never use "Bully!" as an exclamation.
Common mistake:
Learners might think 'Bully for you!' is common today. In modern English it sounds old-fashioned, joking, or ironic.
Meaning
exclamation meaning ‘well done’
Collocations
Bully for you!
|Bully!
|Bully for him!
Synonyms
bravo (Formal or theatrical; similarly expresses enthusiastic approval.)
|
great (Very common modern exclamation; neutral, informal.)
Antonyms
boo (An exclamation of disapproval or dislike, opposite in reaction.)
Themes
communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
An old word people shouted to say 'Great!' or 'Well done!'
Used as an exclamation to express strong approval, praise, or satisfaction.
Grammar
Dictionary form
bully
IPA
GB/bˈʊli/
US/bˈʊli/
Syllables & stress
bully (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (bully)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: bully
Noun
- Base: bully
- Plural: bullies
Verb
- Base: bully
- 3rd Person Singular: bullies
- Present Participle: bullying
- Past: bullied
Word family
Forms
bullies
noun
bullying
verb
bullied
verb
Related words
cyberbullying
noun
cyberbully
noun
Negative and opposite forms
anti-bullying
adjective
Expressions
bully boy
1/bˈʊli bˈɔɪ/
fixed phrase
violent man used to threaten
A man, often young, who is ready to use violence or threats for another person or group.
Examples
- The dictator’s bully boys stood at every street corner.
- He acts like a bully boy for the company, scaring smaller rivals.
bully for you
1/bˈʊli fɚ jˈu/
idiom
informal
good for you (often ironic)
Used to say that someone has done well or is lucky, sometimes in a joking or unfriendly way.
Examples
- "You got a pay rise? Well, bully for you," she said, sounding jealous.
- He actually meant it kindly when he said, "Bully for you!"
- People sometimes use "Bully for you" in an ironic way to show they are not impressed.
bully into
1/bˈʊli ˈɪntu/
phrasal verb
force someone to do something
To make someone do something by scaring them or being very aggressive, not by asking politely.
Examples
- They tried to bully her into signing the agreement.
- He was bullied into joining the gang.
- Do not let anyone bully you into doing something illegal.
bully pulpit
1/bˈʊli pˈʊlpɪt/
idiom
formal
position used to influence others
A powerful job or public position that gives someone a good chance to speak to many people and try to change their opinions.
Examples
- The presidency gives her a bully pulpit to talk about climate change.
- He used his popular TV show as a bully pulpit for social issues.
bully pulpit
2/bˈʊli pˈʊlpɪt/
idiom
powerful position for persuasion
A public job or important position that makes it easy for someone to speak to many people and try to change what they think or do.
Examples
- The presidency is a bully pulpit for drawing attention to national problems.
- She saw the role of mayor as a bully pulpit to push for police reform.
- Social media has become a kind of bully pulpit for many celebrities.