bored-stiff
/ˌbɔːd ˈstɪf/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Very bored; bored to an extreme degree. It is an informal phrase used to show strong impatience or lack of interest.
- I was bored-stiff during the long lecture.
- She looked bored-stiff at the meeting.
- The children were bored-stiff on the train.
Adinary Nuance
Bored-stiff is stronger and more casual than bored. It is more expressive than uninterested, which can sound calmer or more formal. Use bored-stiff when you want to show you were extremely bored in speech or informal writing.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- chán muốn chết
- Spanish
- aburridísimo
- Chinese
- 无聊透顶
- Japanese
- ひどく退屈
- Korean
- 너무 지루한
Etymology
This is an informal English phrase built from bored + stiff. It appeared in modern spoken English as a strong way to say someone feels extremely bored.
Common phrases
bored-stiff at schoolbored-stiff on the journeylook bored-stiffget bored-stiff
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is bored-stiff formal or informal?
- It is informal. Use it in speech, texts, or casual writing, not formal reports.
- Is bored-stiff stronger than bored?
- Yes. It suggests a much stronger feeling of boredom.
- Can I use bored-stiff in IELTS writing?
- You can understand it, but it is usually too informal for formal IELTS writing.