Bog
/bɒɡ/
nounBeginner📊CommonGeneral
2 meanings2 questions
Definitions
2 meanings1
An area of wet, spongy ground, typically covered with peat.
/bɒɡ/
nounneutralBeginner
General
Area of wet, spongy ground
The car got stuck in the bog.
💡 Simply: Wet, muddy land.
More Examples
2
The bog was teeming with wildlife.
How It's Used
Geography
"The hikers got lost in the bog."
2
To hinder or impede the progress of something.
/bɒɡ/
verbnegativeIntermediate
General
To hinder or impede
The meeting was bogged down in endless debate.
💡 Simply: To slow down or stop something.
More Examples
2
Don't let minor details bog you down.
How It's Used
Informal Conversation
"The paperwork bogged down the project."
Tip:Imagine something sinking into a bog – slow and difficult.
From Old English *bog, *bocc, meaning "soft, wet ground".
The word 'bog' has been used in English for centuries to describe wetland areas. Its usage in the sense of 'to hinder' is more recent.
Memory tip
Think of 'bog' as a soggy 'log'.
Word Origin
LanguageOld English
Original meaning
"soft, wet ground"
bog downbog standard
Common misspellings
boogboag
Practice
Usage
60%Spoken
40%Written