Is 'Bugger off' a swear word?

[scrummyyummy]

I grew up thinking that 'bugger' was a swear word but I heard a character say 'bugger off' on Neighbours yesterday. I know it's no where as strong as the F word but I still thought it was a swear word so was surprised to hear it on daytime TV?

[jackthehat]

The Aussies seem to treat it far more lightly than we do over here.

[EvianBaby]

I'm always surprised when I hear bitch on day time radio and TV.

[pdust]

i think bugger off shouldnt be classed as swearing..... its so commonly used round here its not different to saying sod off...

[shooty]

My mother uses 'Bugger off' in jest. She is a devote Catholic. I will NOT question my mother. (love her too much) : )

[Ann]

Even that used to be a swear word in my childhood pdust!

[shoota]

I suppose now that the act has been decriminalised the word has become acceptable too?

[jno]

it's been sort of standard in Australia for decades. I still think bugger off and sod off are rude, but it partly depends whether you intend them to be so. I don't use either, as I'm not rudely inclined anyway.

[pdust]

i think sod off is maybe slightly worse than bugger off... we all say bugger or bugger off as a kind of silly affectionate saying.... my grandkids ask me for an ice cream i say bugger off im not made of money (then buy them one).... sod off is used when we are more annoyed not playful..... same with bugger and sod.... you little bugger is usually said when laughing... you little sod is usually said when annoyed a bit ....

[jackthehat]

Mark Philippoussis used it in a post-match interview after a Wimbledon (?) loss one year; ".......I knew I was pretty much buggered...".

It elicited much apologising, etc. from the BBC, but I barely even registered it. However, I think if 'Timmy' had said it there would have been questions asked during PMQs.

[mccfluff]

it was when i was a kid but no one seems to be bothered by it now. i remember getting a slap of my dad when i asked him what buggeration was

[scrummyyummy]

Do you think it's taken more as a swear word down south compared to up north? What about 'bloody'? I used to think that was a swear word too and I still don't use it in my conversations (unless I mean to use it as a swear word!).

[jno]

after the rugby world cup, Richie McCaw said on TV that he was absolutely shagged... which has probably nudged that word a bit closer to polite speech.

[Kristal53]

it depends where you come from in the English speaking world. While living in Canada I was amazed when attending a very stern Christian family function, a parent laughing at a child who was pestering for something , remarking 'oh he's such a little bugger isn't he'? Apparently over there its linked with the verb 'to bug' someone...she was mortified when I told her what it meant in the UK -then again - a Walmart banner 'Fannypacks on Sale' had me in stitches

[woofgang]

I was brought up to believe that they are rude but i think that like many other words, usage has slipped somewhat. 20 years ago when we lived in the US there was a child safety device called a Little Bugger, it was a bracelet that set off an alarm if the child went further than a few yards from the receiver unit...
have just googled, this is a daycare centre in the US!!
http://www.littlebugg.../uploads/Handbook.pdf

[jno]

I was in a Hungarian newsagents the other day and surprised to see two local magazines on the rack next to each other, Hot and Fanny

[scrummyyummy]

Kristal, you reminded me when I once went through customs at Florida. I had a bum bag strapped on me and the security chap stopped me and said, "Can I take a look at your fanny pack please?" I thought, he's a bit forward, he's only just met me! Made me chuckle!

[Wharton]

Get into a conversation with a WPC and say "Bugger off you bitch" - you'll get your answer.

[scrummyyummy]

LOL! There's 2 naughty B words in there so probably would get into trouble!