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bug

Meaning: To bother, annoy, or irritate mildly.

Language: English

Literally: (Already vivid in English)

Category: Animals

Origin: Whereas get someone's dander up means to irritate in earnest, bug means to annoy harmlessly or perhaps humorously. The expression suggests a bug flying around one's head.

More idioms — Animals

  • bull in a china shop — Insensitive to delicate situations; to be so clumsy that one breaks things inadvertently.
  • chicken — Scared; frightened.
  • chicken out — To become too frightened to do something; to lose one's nerve.
  • clam up — To not say anything.
  • cock-and-bull story — A story that is too unlikely to be believed.
  • cook someone's goose — To ruin someone's plans.

More English idioms

  • crocodile tears — False, exaggerated tears.
  • cry wolf — To raise a false alarm or exaggerate so often that one is no longer believed.
  • dark horse — A competitor who is little-known by most people but who is expected to win by someone mor…
  • dog-eared — Well-worn.
  • dog-eat-dog — Ruthless, competitive, and fast-paced.
  • dog days of summer — Very hot days.

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