bogey

Everyday

1. (UK, Ireland, Australia, informal) A bogey is a bit of dried mucus (snot) from inside your nose; Americans say «booger». tree →
2. (golf) A bogey is a score of one more than par on a hole. tree →
3. A bogey (bogeyman) is an imaginary evil spirit or monster used to scare children. tree →
4. Something people fear or worry about: «Maths is my bogey subject». tree →
5. (Australia, slang) A swim or a bath. tree →

In the lessons

In the playground and at home it is the funny, slightly rude word for a bit of snot. In golf on TV it is a score. In stories the bogeyman is a monster under the bed. Phrases: «pick your nose for bogeys», «make a bogey», «bogeyman», «bogey team».

Examples

• Stop picking your bogeys and use a tissue! tree →
• My little brother wiped a bogey on the sofa, yuck. tree →
• The golfer made a bogey on the fifth hole. tree →
• I was scared that the bogeyman lived under the stairs. tree →
• Spelling is my bogey; I always find it hard. tree →
• That team is our bogey team; we never beat them. tree →
• (Australia) Let's go for a bogey in the creek. tree →

Note

Plural «bogeys». The snot meaning is informal, a bit rude but not swearing; at school say «use a tissue». In golf: par 4 hole done in 5 shots = a bogey; in 3 = a birdie. «Bogie» is also a set of wheels on a train.