hassel
B2Informal
Definition
Meaning
Inconvenient or annoying trouble or difficulty.
An argument, a fight, or prolonged, irritating effort. Also used as a verb meaning to harass, bother, or cause trouble for someone.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun describing a troublesome situation or a verb meaning to pester. It often implies a level of unnecessary or avoidable nuisance rather than severe hardship.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Used broadly and understood in both varieties. Slightly more common in American English.
Connotations
Equally informal and negative in both varieties.
Frequency
Common in casual speech in both the UK and US.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
It's a hassle to VERBVERB hassle NOUN into VERBingDon't hassle me.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “not worth the hassle”
- “hassle someone for something”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe bureaucratic red tape or inefficient processes ('The new compliance rules are a real hassle.').
Academic
Rare in formal academic writing; may appear in informal speech among academics.
Everyday
Very common in informal conversation to describe minor troubles ('Parking in the city centre is such a hassle.').
Technical
Not typically used in technical contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The reporters wouldn't stop hassling him for a comment.
- I don't want to hassle you, but could you sign this today?
American English
- The security guard hassled us about our parking pass.
- Stop hassling me, I'll do it later.
adverb
British English
- The form was designed hassle-efficiently.
American English
- The event ran hassle-freely from start to finish.
adjective
British English
- We're looking for a more hassle-free solution.
- The process was surprisingly hassle-less.
American English
- They offer a totally hassle-free returns policy.
- It was a very hassle-filled day.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Going to the bank is a hassle.
- Don't hassle your brother.
- It's such a hassle to get a visa for that country.
- I had a bit of a hassle with the hotel over the bill.
- The whole bureaucratic hassle delayed the project by months.
- Street vendors sometimes hassle tourists to buy souvenirs.
- The administrative hassle involved in setting up the charity was immense.
- He was constantly hassled by paparazzi during that period.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a HASSeL (a type of shrub) being a pain to trim — it's a 'hassle'.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIFFICULTY IS A PHYSICAL BURDEN / ANNOYANCE IS A PEST.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'hustle' (суетиться, энергичная деятельность). 'Hassle' is negative; 'hustle' can be positive.
- Avoid direct translation from Russian 'геморрой' (haemorrhoids) as it is much cruder medical slang.
- Not synonymous with 'problem' (проблема) in all contexts; 'hassle' specifically implies annoyance and inconvenience.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling confusion with 'hustle'.
- Overuse in formal contexts.
- Using as a countable noun incorrectly (e.g., 'many hassles' is acceptable but less common than 'a lot of hassle').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes the core meaning of 'hassle' (noun)?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'hassle' is informal. In formal writing, alternatives like 'inconvenience', 'difficulty', or 'complication' are preferred.
Yes, it is very commonly used as a verb meaning 'to harass', 'bother', or 'pester' someone, often persistently.
'Hassle' is negative, meaning annoying trouble. 'Hustle' generally means to move hurriedly or to work energetically, and can have positive connotations of hard work and initiative.
Yes, 'hassle-free' is a very common and useful adjective meaning 'without any trouble or difficulty', often used in advertising (e.g., 'hassle-free returns').