Bummer
noun
A situation or event that is disappointing or makes you feel sad.
It's a real bummer that the concert got canceled.
Often appears as...
- that's a bummer
- what a bummer
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
noun
A lazy or incompetent person.
During the Gold Rush, a bummer was someone who didn't contribute and only sought handouts.
Usage tips
Informal
Historical
noun
A situation or event that is disappointing or makes you feel sad.
It's a real bummer that the concert got canceled.
Often appears as...
- that's a bummer
- what a bummer
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
noun
A lazy or incompetent person.
During the Gold Rush, a bummer was someone who didn't contribute and only sought handouts.
Usage tips
Informal
Historical
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Colloquial Use
Used informally among friends or in casual conversation, not in professional settings.
When I dropped my ice cream, I said, 'What a bummer!'
Pro Tip 2/3Expressing Sympathy
Commonly used to express sympathy when responding to minor disappointments or problems.
You lost your keys? That's a bummer!
Pro Tip 3/3Avoid Overuse
Reserve for moments of genuine disappointment to avoid sounding insensitive or dismissive.
He was upset about his pet being sick, so I didn't say 'bummer.'
Pro Tip 1/3Colloquial Use
Used informally among friends or in casual conversation, not in professional settings.
When I dropped my ice cream, I said, 'What a bummer!'
Pro Tip 2/3Expressing Sympathy
Commonly used to express sympathy when responding to minor disappointments or problems.
You lost your keys? That's a bummer!
Pro Tip 3/3Avoid Overuse
Reserve for moments of genuine disappointment to avoid sounding insensitive or dismissive.
He was upset about his pet being sick, so I didn't say 'bummer.'
Pro Tip 1/3Colloquial Use
Used informally among friends or in casual conversation, not in professional settings.
When I dropped my ice cream, I said, 'What a bummer!'
Pro Tip 2/3Expressing Sympathy
Commonly used to express sympathy when responding to minor disappointments or problems.
You lost your keys? That's a bummer!
Pro Tip 3/3Avoid Overuse
Reserve for moments of genuine disappointment to avoid sounding insensitive or dismissive.
He was upset about his pet being sick, so I didn't say 'bummer.'
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Video examples
Sufferfest: 700 Miles of...
- String cheese, yeah. - I don't know if that's exactly what you feed a dog. At first he was, like, all and then he ate, like, like, half a chunk of string cheese. And I was like we better cut him off. I don't want him to-- And then didn't he poop in the cameraman's sleeping bag? - Yeah, he like-- - So, that was kind of a bummer.
Video examples
Design for people, not...
light meter how would you know we see other examples of problems like this so here's the neonatal intensive care unit where moms come in to visit their babies and keep in mind that mom maybe just had a c-section okay so that's already kind of a bummer mom's visiting her kid she
Video examples
Time Debt PIPE Linda...
honestly I was proud that I could rally while everyone else slept and besides I was liquored up on caffeine I didn't have time for a bummer reality check then she said that she had been going to be a meetings that's short for debtors anonymous now I'm thinking she's really
Video examples
Watch the Total Solar...
significant bite out of the Sun right I have to just point out real quick that my safety glasses are a little yes I'm losing all the bragging rights here and we should mention that they need to be ISO certified glasses there are some fakes out there which is a huge bummer
Video examples
The world doesn't need...
of a presidential command. So I know this is a bummer of an issue, and maybe you have that -- what was it? -- psychic fatigue that we heard about a little bit earlier. So I'm going to switch gears for just a second, and I'm going to talk about my imaginary friend,
Video examples
The taboo secret to...
dumping raw or partially treated sewage into our waterways. The other bummer going on here with our status quo is that half of all of your poop and pee is going to fertilize farmland. The other half is being incinerated or land-filled. And that's a bummer to me,
Video examples
Theremin, the...
and you don't really have a point of reference; you're always relying on your ears and adjusting constantly. You just have to always adjust to what's happening and realize you'll have bummer notes come here and there
Video examples
John Hockenberry: We are...
And I said, "Oh, girls, Dad is a very important journalist, that just wouldn't do at all." And of course, they immediately concluded, "Oh, what a bummer, Dad. Journalists aren't allowed to have flashy wheels.
Video examples
Marla Spivak: Why bees...
We need all of our bees. So what are we going to do? What are we going to do about this big bee bummer that we've created? It turns out, it's hopeful. It's hopeful. Every one of you out there can help bees
Video examples
What really happens when...
Google said no, it's kind of a bummer." He said, "Well, we have the Bing searches." Yeah. That's great. Now I felt like I was -- I felt like I was talking to Nick again.
Video examples
Sufferfest: 700 Miles of...
- String cheese, yeah. - I don't know if that's exactly what you feed a dog. At first he was, like, all and then he ate, like, like, half a chunk of string cheese. And I was like we better cut him off. I don't want him to-- And then didn't he poop in the cameraman's sleeping bag? - Yeah, he like-- - So, that was kind of a bummer.
Video examples
Design for people, not...
light meter how would you know we see other examples of problems like this so here's the neonatal intensive care unit where moms come in to visit their babies and keep in mind that mom maybe just had a c-section okay so that's already kind of a bummer mom's visiting her kid she
Video examples
Time Debt PIPE Linda...
honestly I was proud that I could rally while everyone else slept and besides I was liquored up on caffeine I didn't have time for a bummer reality check then she said that she had been going to be a meetings that's short for debtors anonymous now I'm thinking she's really
Video examples
Watch the Total Solar...
significant bite out of the Sun right I have to just point out real quick that my safety glasses are a little yes I'm losing all the bragging rights here and we should mention that they need to be ISO certified glasses there are some fakes out there which is a huge bummer
Video examples
The world doesn't need...
of a presidential command. So I know this is a bummer of an issue, and maybe you have that -- what was it? -- psychic fatigue that we heard about a little bit earlier. So I'm going to switch gears for just a second, and I'm going to talk about my imaginary friend,
Video examples
The taboo secret to...
dumping raw or partially treated sewage into our waterways. The other bummer going on here with our status quo is that half of all of your poop and pee is going to fertilize farmland. The other half is being incinerated or land-filled. And that's a bummer to me,
Video examples
Theremin, the...
and you don't really have a point of reference; you're always relying on your ears and adjusting constantly. You just have to always adjust to what's happening and realize you'll have bummer notes come here and there
Video examples
John Hockenberry: We are...
And I said, "Oh, girls, Dad is a very important journalist, that just wouldn't do at all." And of course, they immediately concluded, "Oh, what a bummer, Dad. Journalists aren't allowed to have flashy wheels.
Video examples
Marla Spivak: Why bees...
We need all of our bees. So what are we going to do? What are we going to do about this big bee bummer that we've created? It turns out, it's hopeful. It's hopeful. Every one of you out there can help bees
Video examples
What really happens when...
Google said no, it's kind of a bummer." He said, "Well, we have the Bing searches." Yeah. That's great. Now I felt like I was -- I felt like I was talking to Nick again.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Sharon Needles
American Entertainer
I love celebrities, and I love the concept of fame, but it took me getting fame to realize that it doesn't exist, which was kind of a bummer. Fame is great if you're not famous, because it seems like this elusive impossible dream world. And it's not. It's a fancy word that managers and producers make up so they can keep hawking you for more money.
Quote examples
Rachel Dratch
American Comedian
Personally, I don't even read bummer news stories about the environment because it makes me feel helpless to fix anything and reminds me that the general population doesn't treat these issues as an important part of our political life.
Quote examples
Hunter S. Thompson
American Journalist
The trouble with Nixon is that he's a serious politics junkie. He's totally hooked and like any other junkie, he's a bummer to have around, especially as President.
Quote examples
Chelsea Handler
American Comedian
You can't fast-forward heartbreak, and you can't rewind love - and that's just one big bummer.
Quote examples
Selena Gomez
American Actress
I feel like I look 16 sometimes, which is a bummer, because I would love to date older guys.
Quote examples
Jennifer Aniston
American Actress
My father and I are friends and my mother and I don't speak. It's a bummer. I miss her.
Quote examples
Lauv
American Musician
I do feel like I'm a little too much of a bummer sometimes.
Quote examples
Fred Armisen
American Comedian
I learned at 'SNL' that it's a bummer to bum people out.
Quote examples
Suze Orman
American Author
I think they've been baby bummers.
Quote examples
Ben Gibbard
American Musician
I love bummer songs.
Quote examples
Sharon Needles
American Entertainer
I love celebrities, and I love the concept of fame, but it took me getting fame to realize that it doesn't exist, which was kind of a bummer. Fame is great if you're not famous, because it seems like this elusive impossible dream world. And it's not. It's a fancy word that managers and producers make up so they can keep hawking you for more money.
Quote examples
Rachel Dratch
American Comedian
Personally, I don't even read bummer news stories about the environment because it makes me feel helpless to fix anything and reminds me that the general population doesn't treat these issues as an important part of our political life.
Quote examples
Hunter S. Thompson
American Journalist
The trouble with Nixon is that he's a serious politics junkie. He's totally hooked and like any other junkie, he's a bummer to have around, especially as President.
Quote examples
Chelsea Handler
American Comedian
You can't fast-forward heartbreak, and you can't rewind love - and that's just one big bummer.
Quote examples
Selena Gomez
American Actress
I feel like I look 16 sometimes, which is a bummer, because I would love to date older guys.
Quote examples
Jennifer Aniston
American Actress
My father and I are friends and my mother and I don't speak. It's a bummer. I miss her.
Quote examples
Lauv
American Musician
I do feel like I'm a little too much of a bummer sometimes.
Quote examples
Fred Armisen
American Comedian
I learned at 'SNL' that it's a bummer to bum people out.
Quote examples
Suze Orman
American Author
I think they've been baby bummers.
Quote examples
Ben Gibbard
American Musician
I love bummer songs.
Example 1 of 10
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