Bugaboo (Noun)

Sentence with Context:

Another bugaboo for recyclers is the increasing use of non-recyclable wrappers around perfectly recyclable bottles and cans. 

Source: www.theguardian.com

Very few conservatives said they favored reducing (or cutting out altogether) spending on any program. The least popular program proved to be childcare — with a grand total of 20 percent of conservatives saying they’d slash it. The most popular is highways; only 6 percent want to cut spending there. Even bugaboos like welfare and foreign aid fare well, attracting the ire of only 15 percent of conservatives. Amazingly, the survey found that, on average, 54 percent of them actually wanted to increase spending.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Parents might be interested in the bugaboo, a non-existent Indian ghost which “mothers use to quieten naughty children”.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Meaning: An imaginary object of fear or alarm; An object that causes fear or distress out of proportion to its importance

Synonyms

Bugbear, Dread, Hobgoblin, Bogeyman, Scarecrow

Antonyms

Reassuring, Encouraging, Comforting, Heartening, Soothing

Mnemonic (Memory Aid): How To Remember?

Think of “Bugaboo” as Bug + a + Boo. Now, imagine a cute, little bug that tries to scare you by shouting out “Boo!” But that cute little bug is no threat! It may just cause fear or distress out of proportion to its importance. Remember thus.

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