Hassle
'hæs.əl
Definitions
2 meaningsA situation causing inconvenience, difficulty, or trouble, typically involving effort or annoyance.
'hæs.əl
A situation causing difficulty or trouble.
Packing for a trip is always a hassle.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're trying to get a new toy, but you have to wait in a long line, fill out forms, and then find the right person to pay. That whole annoying process is a 'hassle'!
👶 For kids: A hassle is something that is a little annoying and takes up a lot of time, like when you have to wait a long time to get something.
More Examples
I'm trying to avoid the hassle of dealing with insurance.
The paperwork was a complete hassle.
How It's Used
"Dealing with traffic is a daily hassle for many commuters."
"The new software update caused a major hassle for the sales team."
To pester or annoy someone repeatedly, especially by making demands or complaints.
'hæs.əl
To bother or annoy someone, especially with repeated requests.
Stop hassling me about it!
💡 Simply: Think of your little brother or sister who keeps asking you the same question over and over, like 'Are we there yet?' You might say, 'Stop hassling me!' It means stop bothering me.
👶 For kids: To hassle someone is like to keep asking them to do something or bothering them over and over until they get annoyed.
More Examples
She was constantly hassling her husband to take out the trash.
The salespeople were hassling potential customers relentlessly.
How It's Used
"Please don't hassle me about it; I'll get it done when I can."
"The manager kept hassling the employee about the missing reports."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
hassle someone for something
To persistently ask or demand something from someone.
"He kept hassling his boss for a raise."
hassle-free
Involving no problems or difficulties; easy.
"The company offers hassle-free returns."
Likely derived from the word 'hassel' which referred to a harsh, rough, or awkward job. Originates in the late 18th century. It may be related to the German word 'hass' which means 'hate' or 'enmity'.
Used in the 18th and 19th centuries to describe various inconveniences and problems, evolving to its current meaning.
Memory tip
Think of a 'castle' with many obstacles – a hassle to get through.