Cool MateBother vs Make trouble for you
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Bother
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Make trouble for you
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most formal: BotherMost common: Bother
| Bother | Make trouble for you | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈbɒðə(r)/","/ˈbɒðəz/","/ˈbɒðəd/","/ˈbɒðərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈbɑːðər/","/ˈbɑːðərz/","/ˈbɑːðərd/","/ˈbɑːðərɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //meɪk ˈtrʌb.əl fə juː//🇺🇸 //meɪk ˈtrʌb.əl fɔr ju// |
| Meaning | to trouble or annoy someone | To cause problems for someone. |
| Example | I didn't mean to bother you while you were working. | The kids always manage to make trouble for you during family gatherings. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | don’t bother, bother someone, bother with, bother about, bother to | make trouble for someone, make serious trouble for you, often make trouble for you |
| Antonyms | ignore, assist, help | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'bother' without an object, e.g., 'He bothers' instead of 'He bothers me.', Confusing 'bother' with 'disturb' which has a stronger connotation., Wrongly using 'bother' in positive contexts, like saying 'I don't want to bother you' when wanting to engage. | Confused with 'cause trouble for you' - these are similar but have different nuances., Using 'makes' instead of 'make' - ensure subject-verb agreement., Omitting 'for you' - this phrase needs a recipient. |
| Usage notes | Used in everyday conversation to express annoyance or concern. More common in informal situations and may feel too blunt in formal contexts. | Commonly used in informal settings. Avoid in professional or formal contexts. It implies a sense of mischief or deliberate annoyance. |
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Frequently asked questions: Bother vs Make trouble for you
What's the difference between Bother and Make trouble for you?
Bother: to trouble or annoy someone Make trouble for you: To cause problems for someone.
Which is more formal: Bother and Make trouble for you?
Bother is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Bother and Make trouble for you?
Bother is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Bother: I didn't mean to bother you while you were working. Make trouble for you: The kids always manage to make trouble for you during family gatherings.
Can I use Bother and Make trouble for you interchangeably?
Not always. Bother and Make trouble for you are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.