badger
B1Neutral (noun); Informal (verb)
Definition
Meaning
A medium-sized, nocturnal, burrowing mammal with distinctive black-and-white facial stripes, belonging to the family Mustelidae.
1. (verb) To pester or annoy someone persistently. 2. (as a proper noun) A native or inhabitant of Wisconsin (the 'Badger State').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, it is a specific animal term. As a verb, it is a figurative extension meaning to nag or harass, often in a playful or mildly annoying way, not with serious aggression.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The noun is identical. The verb is equally common in both. The animal has strong cultural associations in the UK (e.g., protected species, countryside symbol) and in the US (state symbol of Wisconsin).
Connotations
UK: The animal is a beloved, protected part of rural wildlife; also associated with stubbornness ('as stubborn as a badger'). US: Primarily associated with Wisconsin; the verb usage is slightly more common.
Frequency
Noun frequency is similar. The verb is moderately common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to badger someone into doing somethingto badger someone for somethingto badger someone about somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As stubborn as a badger”
- “To badger someone to death (hyperbolic)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. 'The sales team badgered the client until they signed.'
Academic
Rare in formal writing, except in zoology/biology contexts discussing the species.
Everyday
Common for the verb meaning to nag playfully. 'The kids badgered me for ice cream.'
Technical
Used in zoology, ecology, and wildlife conservation.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He badgered the council about the potholes for months.
- Stop badgering me, I'll get the shopping later!
American English
- She finally badgered her parents into getting a dog.
- Reporters badgered the mayor for a statement.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A (not standard). 'Badger-like' or 'badger-haired' (for brushes) are compound modifiers.
American English
- N/A (not standard). The adjective is typically the noun used attributively, e.g., 'badger state', 'badger fur'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I saw a badger in a wildlife park.
- The badger has black and white fur.
- Badgers live in underground setts.
- My brother always badgers me to play video games with him.
- Despite legal protection, badgers still face threats from habitat loss.
- The journalist was accused of badgering the witness during the interview.
- The government's controversial badger cull policy aimed to curb bovine tuberculosis.
- He was a master negotiator, capable of badgering concessions out of the most stubborn opponents.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BADger GERman (badger) constantly asking for directions – it's BADGERing you.
Conceptual Metaphor
PERSISTENT ANNOYANCE IS THE BEHAVIOUR OF A BADGER (from the folk belief that badgers are tenacious or from the sport of badger-baiting).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'барсук' (the animal) when the verb meaning is intended. The verb 'to badger' is best translated as 'доставать', 'приставать', 'занудливо просить'.
- The animal 'барсук' is correct, but the cultural associations differ.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'badger' as a verb with a direct object only, omitting the preposition (e.g., 'He badgered me answers' is wrong; correct: 'He badgered me for answers').
- Confusing 'badger' (animal/verb) with 'badge' (a pin or emblem).
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is NOT a primary meaning of 'badger'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. It implies persistent annoyance, but the context can be mild or playful, like children badgering a parent for a treat.
They are similar. 'Nag' often implies repeated criticism or fault-finding over time (e.g., nagging about chores). 'Badger' focuses more on persistent asking, pestering, or pressuring someone to do something.
Not directly because of the animal, but from 19th-century lead miners who lived in temporary dug-out caves, likened to badgers' setts. They were called 'badgers', and the nickname stuck for the state.
No, they are different species. The honey badger (ratel) is a separate, more aggressive species found in Africa and Asia, famous for its fearlessness.