as in to depart
to leave a place often for another
I wish you would just bug off and leave me alone
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Recent Examples of bug off
Blast bugs off your house with the garden hose.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2025
Keep bugs off the guest list at your next outdoor gathering.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 June 2025
To keep harlequin bugs off of vegetables, the simplest approach is to cover the plants immediately after planting.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 16 Apr. 2025
Additionally, it can be used to keep harmful bugs off your garden plants, if needed.
—Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 26 May 2023
The San Antonio Zoo is offering a special Valentine’s Day greeting for exes who just won’t bug off.
—Yenny Sanchez, CNN, 29 Jan. 2023
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2025
Keep bugs off the guest list at your next outdoor gathering.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 June 2025
To keep harlequin bugs off of vegetables, the simplest approach is to cover the plants immediately after planting.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 16 Apr. 2025
Additionally, it can be used to keep harmful bugs off your garden plants, if needed.
—Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 26 May 2023
The San Antonio Zoo is offering a special Valentine’s Day greeting for exes who just won’t bug off.
—Yenny Sanchez, CNN, 29 Jan. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bug off
Verb
-
Carney departed before the event.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Chisom departed for Oklahoma State via the transfer portal, and Vaughns – who juggled baseball and football before the 2025 season – is on his way toward a potential NFL career.—
Benjamin Royer,
Daily News,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The chase continued onto highways 85 and 87 before the suspect exited in Willow Glen and drove to the final shooting site downtown, with officers from San Jose police, the CHP and the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office in pursuit.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Surveillance video shows the suspect walking through the aisles before exiting the building.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Sun Belt Conference preemptively shook up its women’s basketball schedule, moving around the start times on several games from Thursday through Saturday.—
John Raby,
Twin Cities,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Ukraine has also been frustrated by political disagreements within Europe over how to deal with Russia, as well as the bloc's at times slow-moving responses.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Most of them go deep into the memory vault of childhood, recalling fishing trips and family gatherings.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
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Nordstrom Lucky Brand Fair Isle Shawl-Collar Cardigan Both Lopez’s and Hudson’s sweaters appear to be from Polo Ralph Lauren (the former’s looks like this one that's no longer available, while the latter’s resembles this one that goes for $798).—
Alyssa Grabinski,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
There is now a push to get the issue approved as a ballot measure.—
Will Yakowicz,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Down 117-112 with less than five seconds remaining, Boston got another triple from Pritchard and a gift from Traore, who missed a foul shot that would have put the game away.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
There are significant worries that AI can readily go off the rails or otherwise dispense unsuitable or even egregiously inappropriate mental health advice.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
And still another went off on the topic of the hour, affordability.—
Assistant Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
People are there getting off the bus and waiting for a train.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
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The alleged victim is glad to avoid a trial but doesn’t love the idea of Barnett getting off with a plea deal, a source close to her told TMZ.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
During a childhood fight, Aemond had his eye cut out by Rhaenyra’s son Lucerys and stole her family’s ferocious, powerful red dragon Vhagar.—
Skyler Trepel,
PEOPLE,
19 Jan. 2026
-
Once Harry and Ron's worlds collide, the Harry Potter music cuts out, making room for the high-octane Heated Rivalry theme.—
Staff Author,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bug off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bug%20off. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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