OpenEtymology

bugging

UKˈbʌɡɪŋUSˈbʌɡɪŋ

Meaning

1n.

窃听;电子监听

2adj.

烦人的,恼人的

Usage

The embassy was equipped with sophisticated bugging devices.

大使馆内安装了复杂的窃听装置。

He suspected his phone was under bugging by unknown parties.

他怀疑自己的电话正被未知方窃听。

That buzzing sound is really bugging me; I can't concentrate.

那嗡嗡声真烦人,我无法集中注意力。

Etymology

bugging 的故事始于古英语的 budda(甲虫),这个词本身可能模拟昆虫的嗡嗡声。随着时间推移,bug 泛指各种小虫。到了20世纪,电子时代为它注入了新生命:因其体型小、隐蔽性强,bug 被用来指代隐藏的窃听装置;同时,它也形容机器中如虫啃噬般的故障。加上动名词后缀 -ing,bugging 便专指“窃听”这一持续行为,而形容词用法则延伸出“烦人如虫扰”的生动意象。

Bugging Meaning, Examples & Word Origin | OpenEtymology