01 n. Something frightful, as a specter; anything imaginary that causes needless fright; something used to excite needless fear; also, something …
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1.
Something frightful, as a specter; anything imaginary that causes needless fright; something used to excite needless fear; also, something really dangerous, or an imaginary monster, used to frighten children, etc.“But, to the world no bugbear is so great As want of figure and a small estate.” — Pope.“The bugaboo of the liberals is the church pray.” — S. B. Griffin.“The great bugaboo of the birds is the owl.” — J. Burroughs.
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2.
a source of concern; as, the old bugaboo of inflation still bothers them.