bugaboo

(bŭg'ə-bū')
n., pl., -boos.

1. An object of obsessive, usually exaggerated fear or anxiety: "Boredom, laziness and failure . . . These bugaboos, magnified by imagination, keep [the workaholic] running" (Dun's Review).
2. A recurring or persistent problem: "the bugaboos that have plagued vision systems: high price and slow throughput" (Lawrence A. Goshorn).

[Perhaps of Celtic origin.]

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For a list of words related to bugaboo, see:

• Fusses and Troubles
• Agitation, Abnormality, and Instability - bugaboo: imaginary object of fear, causing disproportionate anxiety

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - bussemand, skræmmebillede

Nederlands (Dutch)
schrikbeeld

Français (French)
n. - croque-mitaine

Deutsch (German)
n. - Schreckgespenst

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - σκιάχτρο, μπαμπούλας

Italiano (Italian)
spauracchio

Português (Portuguese)
n. - coisa (f) imaginária que causa medo

Русский (Russian)
пугало

Español (Spanish)
n. - espectro, fantasma

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - buse, irritationsmoment

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
鬼怪

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 鬼怪

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 도깨비

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - お化け, 心配の種

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) شىء للتخويف, شىء مقلق, بعبع‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮דחליל, מפלצת‬

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