bother (redirected from bothering)

(It) doesn't bother me any. and (It) doesn't bother me at all.

It does not trouble me at all.; I have no objection. (Compare this with (It) don't bother me none. Not very polite or cordial. See also (It) won't bother me any. for the future tense of this expression.) John: Do you mind if I sit here? Jane: Doesn't bother me any. Sally (smoking a cigarette): Do you mind if I smoke? Bill: It doesn't bother me any.

See also: any

(It) don't bother me none.

Inf. It does not affect me one way or the other.; It doesn't bother me any. (Familiar and ungrammatical. Sometimes used for effect.) John: Mind if I sit here? Bob: It don't bother me none. Mary: Can I smoke? Bill: Don't bother me none.

See also: none

(It) won't bother me any. and (It) won't bother me at all.

Inf. It will not trouble me at all.; I have no objection if you wish to do that. (Not very polite or cordial. For the present tense of this expression, see also (It) doesn't bother me any.) John: Will you mind if I sit here? Jane: Won't bother me any. Sally (lighting a cigarette): Do you mind if I smoke? Bill: It won't bother me at all.

See also: any

bother someone with someone or something and bother someone about someone or something

to annoy someone with someone or something; to worry someone about someone or something. (Either a physical annoyance or a mental annoyance.) Don't bother me with that! Don't bother yourself about the bill. I'll pay it.

bother about something

to care about something; to take the trouble to deal with something. Please don't bother about this mess. I'll clean it up. Don't bother about it.

bother one's (pretty little) head about someone or something

Rur. to worry about something. (Stereotypically polite Southern talk to a woman; often said facetiously or patronizingly.) Now, don't bother your pretty little head about all this. Don't bother your head about me.

See also: head

bother with someone or something

to take the time or trouble to deal with someone or something. (Usually negative.) Please don't bother with Jill. She can take care of herself. Don't bother me with your problems.

Don't bother me!

Go away!; Leave me alone! Tom: Hey, Bill! Bill: Don't bother me! I'm busy. Can't you see? "Don't bother me! Leave me alone!" the child shouted at the dog.

go to the bother

(of doing something) Go to go to the trouble (of doing something).

go to the trouble (of doing something) and go to the trouble (to do something); go to the bother (of doing something); go to the bother (to do something)

to endure the effort or bother of doing something. I really don't want to go to the trouble to cook. Should I go to the bother of cooking something for her to eat? Don't go to the trouble. She can eat a sandwich.

See also: trouble

hot and bothered 

1. Fig. excited; anxious. Now don't get hot and bothered. Take it easy. John is hot and bothered about the tax increase.

2. Fig. amorous; interested in romance or sex. John gets hot and bothered whenever Mary comes into the room. The dog seems hot and bothered. I think it's that time of the year again.

See also: and, hot

let someone or something alone and leave someone or something alone; leave someone or something be

to avoid touching, bothering, or communicating with someone or something. Leave me alone. I don't want your help. Let it alone! Don't touch it! It may be hot!

See also: alone, let

let alone someone or something

not to mention or think of someone or something; not even to take someone or something into account. (Fixed order.) Do I have a dollar? I don't even have a dime, let alone a dollar. I didn't invite John, let alone the rest of his family.

See also: alone, let

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(all) hot and bothered  (informal)

worried or angry, and sometimes physically hot Dad gets all hot and bothered if someone parks in his parking space.

See also: and, hot

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somebody can’t be bothered to do something

someone has decided it is not important to do something If I'm just going to the gym in the morning, I can’t be bothered to put on makeup.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form someone could not be bothered with something

go to the trouble (of doing something) also take the trouble (to do something)

to make an effort to do something If anyone had gone to the trouble of looking up his record, the police would not have released him.

See also: trouble

hot and bothered

angry and excited Dad gets all hot and bothered if someone parks in his parking space.

See also: and, hot

let somebody alone

to not annoy or interrupt someone leave somebody alone I tried to keep my promise not to call her, to let her alone to think, but finally I needed to talk to her.

See also: alone, let

let alone do something

and to an even greater degree do something We were trapped in a situation you can barely imagine, let alone understand.

Usage notes: used to emphasize the extreme character of something

Related vocabulary: not to mention somebody/something

See also: alone, let