Meaning & use
keep buggering on
Last updated
Meaning
phraseintransitiveinformalBritishvulgar
To continue doing something difficult or unpleasant without giving up.
Grammar: No object; used as an encouragement or description of persistence.
Patterns
- keep buggering on with something
- just keep buggering on
When the project got tough, she told herself to keep buggering on.
He lost his job but kept buggering on until he found a new one.
The team kept buggering on despite the bad weather.
Common combinations
- just keep buggering on
- When things go wrong, just keep buggering on.
- keep buggering on with
- She kept buggering on with her studies even when she felt like quitting.
- tell someone to keep buggering on
- His father told him to keep buggering on and not complain.
Synonyms and how they differ
- keep going
- Polite and neutral; suitable for any situation.
- persevere
- Formal; means to continue trying despite difficulties.
- soldier on
- Informal but not vulgar; means to continue despite hardship.
Opposites
Commonly confused: keep buggering on or bugger off?
keep buggering on vs bugger off
A different vulgar British phrase meaning to go away or leave.
Practice
In which situation would 'keep buggering on' be most appropriate?
Choose one answer.
'Keep buggering on' is vulgar and informal, so it fits casual talk with friends, not formal or academic settings.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “keep buggering on”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.