◙ verb 1. [noobj., with negative] take the trouble to do something • 麻烦,烦心,尽力 »scientists rarely bother with such niceties. 科学家们很少为这些细节问题操心。 »[with infinitive] the driver didn't bother to ask why. 这司机没有费心去问为什么。 2. [with obj.] (of a circumstance or event) worry, disturb, or upset (someone) • (环境,事件)使焦虑,使烦恼 »secrecy is an issue which bothers journalists. 秘密是令记者们感到烦恼的一个问题。 »[with obj.andclause] it bothered me that I hadn't done anything. 我什么也没做,这使我不安。 [with obj.] [usu. with negative] feel concern about or interest in • 关心;对…感兴趣 »don't bother about me—I'll find my own way home. 别管我,我自己能找到回家的路。 »he wasn't to bother himself with day-to-day things. 他根本不关心日常事务。 »[as adj. bothered] I'm not particularly bothered about how I look. 我并不特别在意自己的外表。 cause trouble or annoyance to (someone) by interrupting or otherwise inconveniencing them • 打扰,烦扰,给(某人)添麻烦 »I'm sorry to bother you at this time of night. 很抱歉,这么晚了打扰你。 ◙ noun 1. [mass noun] effort, trouble, or difficulty • 努力,麻烦,困难 »he saved me the bother of having to come up with a speech. 他帮我避免了演讲的麻烦。 »it may seem like too much bother to cook just for yourself. 就为自己一个人做饭看起来好像太兴师动众了。 »it's no bother, it's on my way home. 不麻烦,我顺路回家。 [Brit.] used to refer to serious trouble in an understated way • [英] 麻烦(指大麻烦的一种轻描淡写的说法) »I'm afraid there's been a bit of bother. 我想有点麻烦了。 (a bother)a person or thing that causes annoyance or difficulty • 讨厌的人(或事) »I hope she hasn't been a bother. 我希望她不要这么讨厌。 ◙ exclamation 1. (chiefly Brit.)used to express mild irritation or impatience • [主英] 讨厌(表达轻微的愤怒和不耐烦) »‘Bother!’ she muttered. “讨厌!”她抱怨道。
【IDIOMS】
◘ can't be bothered (to do something) 1. be unwilling to make the effort needed to do something • 不愿找麻烦,不想出力 »they couldn't be bothered to look it up. 他们根本不想花力气去查这件事。 ◘ hot and bothered 1. in a state of anxiety or physical discomfort, especially as a result of being pressured • (因焦虑或身体不适而感到)心急火燎
【语源】
1. late 17th cent. (as a noun in the dialect sense 'noise, chatter'): of Anglo-Irish origin; probably related to Irish bodhaire 'noise', bodhraim 'deafen, annoy'. The verb (originally dialect) meant 'confuse with noise' in the early 18th cent