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# bossy

«bossy» in Mova's school dictionary: **always telling other people what to do, in a way that is…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

adjective (bossy, bossier, bossiest)

### meaning for a pupil

1) (informal) Bossy means always telling other people what to do, in a way that is annoying. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bossy/#m1)

2) (informal, children) "Bossy boots" is a teasing name for a bossy person. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bossy/#m2)

### sense in the lessons

In stories and school life, a bossy character orders others around in games and group work; it is a common character trait to describe. In PSHE lessons, children learn the difference between being a good leader and being bossy. Phrases: bossy boots, a bossy older sister, stop being bossy.

### examples

- My big sister is so bossy! [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bossy/#x1)
- Stop being bossy and let someone else choose. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bossy/#x2)
- In group work, Sam can be a bit bossy. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bossy/#x3)
- Don't be such a bossy boots. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bossy/#x4)
- The bossy cat chased the dog off the sofa. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bossy/#x5)
- A good leader listens; a bossy person just gives orders. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bossy/#x6)

### note

Comparison: bossier, bossiest (y changes to i). From "boss". Informal, and it is a criticism. Opposite: easy-going, meek.

### In the corpora

- [Instructions have a title, a list of what you need, numbered steps and bossy verbs.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/english/23-reading-non-fiction-recount-instructions-report/24/)
- [Bossy verbs, also called imperative verbs, tell you what to do: mix, fill, push, stir.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/english/23-reading-non-fiction-recount-instructions-report/25/)
- [Instructions use imperative (bossy) verbs at the start of steps: mix, cut, press, brush.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/english/44-writing-to-inform-instruct-and-persuade/7/)
- ["Strong personality" on a report often means bossy or defiant.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/euphemisms/15-behaviour-and-school-reports/21/)
- ["Natural leader" can be spin for bossy; spin means choosing nice-sounding words to make something bad sound good.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/euphemisms/16-school-reports/14/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «bossy» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bossy/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.