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bully

    noun

    1    persecutor, browbeater, bully boy, coercer, intimidator, oppressor, ruffian, tormentor, tough

    verb

    2    persecute, browbeat, coerce, domineer, hector, intimidate, oppress, push around (slang), terrorize, tyrannize

bully      

    1 bully   bullies  

A bully is someone who uses their strength or power to hurt or frighten other people.

   I fell victim to the office bully.

   He's a coward and a bully who confuses physical strength with manhood.

N-COUNT  

    2 bully   bullies   bullying   bullied  

If someone bullies you, they use their strength or power to hurt or frighten you.

   I wasn't going to let him bully me.

   I asked her if she was bullied by the other children.

VB  

= push around  

    · bullying  

   ...schoolchildren who were victims of bullying.

N-UNCOUNT  

    3 bully   bullies   bullying   bullied  

If someone bullies you into something, they make you do it by using force or threats.

   We think an attempt to bully them into submission would be counterproductive.

   She used to bully me into doing my schoolwork.

   The government says it will not be bullied by the press.

VB  

pick on 1 pick on picks on; picking on; 

picked on 

 If someone picks on you, they repeatedly criticize you unfairly or treat you unkindly. (INFORMAL) 

 Bullies pick on younger children. 

 Mr Adams was repeatedly bullied and picked on by manageress Elizabeth Archer. PHR-V = get at 2 pick on picks on; picking on; picked on 

 If someone picks on a particular person or thing, they choose them, for example for special attention or treatment. (mainly BRIT)

 When you have made up your mind, pick on a day when you will not be under much stress. 

 I picked on simple thingsmrice and peas, meat and bread. PHR-V = pick 

stand up          

    1 stand up   stands up; standing up; stood up

If something such as a claim or a piece of evidence stands up, it is accepted as true or satisfactory after being carefully examined.

   He made wild accusations that did not stand up.

   How well does this thesis stand up to close examination?

PHR-V  

    2 stand up   stands up; standing up; stood up

If a boyfriend or girlfriend stands you up, they fail to keep an arrangement to meet you. (INFORMAL)

   We were to have had dinner together yesterday evening, but he stood me up.

   He was in a foul mood because he had been stood up.

PHR-V  

back down          

    back down   backs down; backing down; backed down

If you back down, you withdraw a claim, demand, or commitment that you made earlier, because other people are strongly opposed to it.

   The United States had no intention of backing down in its bitter row with the European Community over farm subsidies.

   It's too late to back down now.

   He had to back down on plans to backdate the tax changes.

PHR-V  

= abandon  

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