"Bully boy" is a colloquial expression often used to describe a young boy or man who is aggressive, often using intimidation to assert control over others. It can be used in a more playful or affectionate context but is generally negative in connotation. The term may refer to someone who engages in bullying behavior or who has a swaggering, overconfident demeanor.
The frequency of use varies, but it is generally more common in oral speech, often in informal settings.
He was such a bully boy at school, always picking on the younger kids.
Él fue un chico matón en la escuela, siempre acosando a los más jóvenes.
Don't be a bully boy; you need to learn to treat others with respect.
No seas un matón; necesitas aprender a tratar a los demás con respeto.
Some may see him as a bully boy, but he just wants to be tough.
Algunos pueden verlo como un matón, pero él solo quiere ser fuerte.
While "bully boy" itself does not appear frequently as part of established idiomatic expressions, the word "bully" contributes to several idioms in English. These idioms often reflect themes of intimidation or aggressive behavior.
To bully someone into submission.
Forzar a alguien a someterse.
Example: He always tries to bully his teammates into submission during practice.
Siempre intenta forzar a sus compañeros a someterse durante la práctica.
Bully for you!
¡Bien por ti! (often sarcastic)
Example: “You got a promotion? Bully for you!”
“¿Te ascendieron? ¡Bien por ti!”
A bully at heart.
Un matón en el fondo.
Example: He may look friendly, but he's really a bully at heart.
Puede parecer amigable, pero en el fondo es un matón.
Bully pulpit.
Una plataforma para hablar a favor de algo.
Example: The president used his bully pulpit to advocate for education reform.
El presidente utilizó su plataforma para abogar por la reforma educativa.
The term "bully" originally meant "sweetheart" in Middle English (from "bully" as in "boy" or "darling"). Over time, its meaning shifted to refer to someone who is overbearing or intimidates others. The term became associated with aggressive behavior towards others, particularly in the context of children and adolescents. "Boy" is straightforward, referring simply to a young male.
Synonyms: - Tough guy, intimidator, brute, thug.
Antonyms: - Gentle boy, protector, friend, peacemaker.