hassle
gb/hˈæsəl/ us/hˈæsəl/
B1
English
~ 9300
macera, nyaggat, zaklat, zaklatás, vegzálás
NOUN
B1
INFORMAL
1
macera
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] is a hassle
Finding parking downtown is always such a hassle.
A belvárosban parkolóhelyet találni mindig nagy macera.
I’d love to go, but traveling with three kids is a real hassle.
Szívesen mennék, de három gyerekkel utazni igazi macera.
Ordering online saves me the hassle of going to the store.
The visa process was more hassle than I expected.
Honestly, it’s not worth the hassle just for a small discount.
Learner examples
Doing all this paper work is a big hassle.
Ennyi papírmunkát elvégezni nagy macera.
Cleaning the house every day is a hassle for me.
Nekem macera mindennap kitakarítani a házat.
I don’t want the hassle of moving to a new city.
Buying tickets online means less hassle at the airport.
He said the trip was fun, but the flights were a hassle.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'hassle' with 'hustle'. 'Hassle' means trouble or inconvenience, while 'hustle' usually means to hurry or to work hard, and can also mean to cheat someone in informal use.
Meaning
inconvenient trouble or extra effort
Collocations
such a hassle
|a lot of hassle
|save you the hassle
|the hassle of [doing something]
|not worth the hassle
|cut down on the hassle
Synonyms
inconvenience (More neutral and slightly more formal; lacks the casual, spoken tone of 'hassle'.)
|
bother (Very close in meaning but can sound slightly softer or more polite than 'hassle' in some contexts.)
|
pain (Informal and often stronger or more emotional, as in 'a pain to deal with'.)
Antonyms
convenience (Describes something that is easy and helpful, the opposite of causing trouble or extra effort.)
|
ease (Focuses on a lack of difficulty, the opposite of something being a hassle.)
Themes
daily life
|work
|emotions
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A thing or situation that is annoying because it is difficult or takes extra time and effort.
A situation that causes annoying difficulty, extra effort, or inconvenience.
VERB
B2
INFORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
to hassle [someone] (about [something])
Salespeople kept hassling us as soon as we walked into the store.
Amint beléptünk a boltba, az eladók folyton nyaggattak minket.
Stop hassling me about the report—I’ll finish it by Friday.
Ne nyaggass már a jelentés miatt — péntekig befejezem.
She felt hassled by constant calls from the insurance company.
The landlord has been hassling them to move out before the end of the month.
I don’t want to hassle you, but could you send the file today?
Learner examples
My boss keeps hassling me to work faster.
A főnököm állandóan nyaggat, hogy dolgozzak gyorsabban.
Please don’t hassle him; he is very tired.
Kérlek, ne zaklasd; nagyon fáradt.
The kids were hassling their mom for ice cream.
I feel hassled when people call me many times.
They were hassled by men selling things on the beach.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'hassle' as a verb is very strong like 'attack', but it is usually about repeated annoyance or pressure, not physical harm. They also sometimes confuse 'hassle someone' with 'hustle someone'; 'hustle' can mean to move someone quickly or to cheat them, which is different.
Meaning
to annoy or bother someone repeatedly
Collocations
hassle customers
|hassle someone about money
|stop hassling me
|constantly hassled by
|hassle people on the street
|feel hassled
Synonyms
bother (Slightly softer and more general; can be less intense than 'hassle'.)
|
harass (Stronger and more serious, often used for repeated, harmful behavior and in legal contexts.)
|
pester (Suggests repeated asking or nagging, often in a slightly childish or whiny way.)
Antonyms
leave alone (Means not to disturb or bother someone, the opposite of hassling them.)
|
support (Helping and encouraging someone instead of pressuring or annoying them.)
Themes
emotions
|social
|conflict
|daily_life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To keep asking or pushing someone in a way that makes them feel annoyed or stressed.
To annoy, bother, or pressure someone, especially by repeatedly asking them for something or criticizing them.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
get hassle from [someone]
We crossed the border with no hassle from the guards.
Mindenféle zaklatás nélkül keltünk át a határon az őrök részéről.
Protesters complained about constant hassle from the police.
A tüntetők folyamatos rendőri zaklatásra panaszkodtak.
She just wants to do her job without hassle from management.
Teenagers often get more hassle from security than adults do.
He left the club early to avoid any hassle with drunk fans.
Learner examples
They passed the airport check with no hassle.
Mindenféle zaklatás nélkül jutottak át a reptéri ellenőrzésen.
The students said they get a lot of hassle from the security guards.
A diákok azt mondták, hogy sok zaklatás éri őket a biztonsági őrök részéről.
I just want to go home without any hassle from anyone.
We walked through the gate and there was no hassle from the police.
She is tired of the hassle she gets from her neighbors.
Common mistake:
Learners may not see the difference between 'hassle' as general inconvenience and 'hassle' as aggressive treatment. This sense is more about conflict with people, often police, guards, or officials, not just about extra work or effort.
Meaning
argument or aggressive treatment
Collocations
get hassle from the police
|no hassle from security
|constant hassle from
|street hassle
|hassle at the border
|without any hassle from
Synonyms
harassment (More formal and serious; often suggests repeated or abusive behavior.)
|
trouble (Very general; can refer to many kinds of problems, not only aggressive treatment.)
Antonyms
easy treatment (Describes being treated in a simple, relaxed way, without pressure or conflict.)
|
fair treatment (Emphasizes being treated justly and reasonably instead of being given a hard time.)
Themes
conflict
|law
|social
|daily_life
|communication
Definition
An argument, trouble, or unfriendly treatment from someone, especially from police, guards, or people in control.
A situation in which someone is given a hard time, bothered, or treated aggressively, often by authorities or other people in power.
Grammar
Dictionary form
hassle
IPA
GB/hˈæsəl/
US/hˈæsəl/
Syllables & stress
hassle (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (hassle)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: hassle
- Plural: hassles
Verb
- Base: hassle
- 3rd Person Singular: hassles
- Present Participle: hassling
- Past: hassled
Word family
Forms
hassles
noun
hassling
verb
hassled
verb
Negative and opposite forms
hassle-free
adjective
Expressions
no hassle
1/nˈoʊ hˈæsəl/
fixed phrase
informal
without difficulty or inconvenience
Used to say that something is very easy and does not cause any trouble or extra work.
Examples
- You can return the product within 30 days, no hassle.
- The whole process took ten minutes—quick and no hassle.
not worth the hassle
1/nˈɑt wˈɚθ ðə hˈæsəl/
fixed phrase
informal
not good enough for the trouble
Used to say that something is not good enough to make the trouble or extra work okay.
Examples
- I thought about complaining, but honestly it’s not worth the hassle.
- Driving into the city at rush hour just isn’t worth the hassle.
save someone the hassle
1/sˈeɪv sˈʌmwˌʌn ðə hˈæsəl/
fixed phrase
informal
prevent someone’s inconvenience or trouble
To stop someone from having to do something that is difficult or annoying.
Examples
- I’ll send you the file to save you the hassle of downloading everything again.
- Ordering a taxi in advance saves me the hassle of waiting on the street.
Sorry for the hassle
1/sˈɑɹi fɚ ðə hˈæsəl/
fixed phrase
informal
apologizing for causing trouble
A polite way to say you are sorry because you made something difficult or inconvenient for someone.
Examples
- Sorry for the hassle—I didn’t realize the form was so long.
- The manager emailed to say, “Sorry for the hassle, we’ll fix the mistake today.”
What a hassle!
1/wˈʌt ə hˈæsəl ‖/
fixed phrase
informal
exclamation about big inconvenience
An expression you say when something has been very difficult or annoying.
Examples
- We missed the train, had to change tickets, and waited three hours—what a hassle!
- What a hassle just to get a simple refund.
without the hassle
1/wɪðˈaʊt ðə hˈæsəl/
fixed phrase
informal
avoiding difficulty or inconvenience
Used to say that you get something or do something but do not have the usual trouble or extra work.
Examples
- Our service lets you manage your bills without the hassle of paper forms.
- You can enjoy fresh coffee every morning without the hassle of grinding beans yourself.
worth the hassle
1/wˈɚθ ðə hˈæsəl/
fixed phrase
informal
good enough to justify the trouble
Used to say that the result is good, so the trouble or extra work needed is acceptable.
Examples
- The paperwork was annoying, but the cheaper rent was worth the hassle.
- Cooking at home takes time, but the taste is totally worth the hassle.