Bogle means: A scarecrow.. It is a dialectal or regional word and rarely appears in mainstream teen culture; usage usually points to a family, regional, or literary source rather than peer slang. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
bogle
(dialectal, dated) A scarecrow.
Definitions
(dialectal, dated) A scarecrow.
At the turn of the Nineties, the footballer Ian Wright would often celebrate his goals by running to the corner flag, and doing a ‘bogling’ move—the ‘bogle’ was a ragamuffin reggae dance then popular in the black community.
Bogle means: A scarecrow.. It is a dialectal or regional word and rarely appears in mainstream teen culture; usage usually points to a family, regional, or literary source rather than peer slang. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
bogle means: A scarecrow.. Register: regional or dialectal, informal. Not common in mainstream English; use only if you specifically want a regional or literary effect, otherwise the standard equivalent is safer. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
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(dance) A Jamaican dance move that involves raising and lowering the arms while moving the body in a waving motion.
In Jamaica, there's a constant stream of new moves, corresponding to big club tunes. Dancers race to put videos online in the hope of starting the next bogle, dutty wine or hot wuk sensation.
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(UK, especially, Scotland) A goblin, imp, bogeyman, bugbear or similar a frightful being or phantom.
For ilka place I ha'e is already fu',But ae big room-'deed frien', I needna lie t'yneAn' that has long been haunted by a bogle
Bogle means: A goblin, imp, bogeyman, bugbear or similar a frightful being or phantom.. It is mainly Scottish English and may not be understood outside that context. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
bogle means: A goblin, imp, bogeyman, bugbear or similar a frightful being or phantom.. Register: informal, Scottish English. Often not understood outside its region; gloss the word on first use when writing for an international audience. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
“"If your preference is managed funds, you want a managed fund that, one might put it, is like a sailboat fighting not a typhoon of costs but only a breeze." - John Bogle”
— Bluesky· May 2026
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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