bogeyman

• bogieman, bogyman, boogieman, boogeyman, boogyman, buggerman

From bogey +‎ -man.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈbəʊ.ɡɪˌmæn/, /ˈbəʊ.ɡiˌmæn/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈboʊ.ɡiˌmæn/, /ˈbʊɡ.iˌmæn/, /ˈbu.ɡiˌmæn/
• (Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈbu.ɡiˌmæn/

bogeyman (plural bogeymen)

1. A menacing, ghost-like monster in children's stories.

   Synonyms: bogey, bug-a-boo, bugaboo, bugbear

   Coordinate terms: goblin; see also Thesaurus:ghost

   Near-synonyms: bogeyperson, bogeywoman

   • 2003, “Pet”, performed by A Perfect Circle:

     Lay your head down child
     I won't let the boogeyman come
     Counting bodies like sheep
     To the rhythm of the war drums
     Pay no mind to the rabble
     Pay no mind to the rabble
     Head down, go to sleep
     To the rhythm of the war drums

2. (figuratively, by extension) Any make-believe threat, especially one used to intimidate or distract; a real threat greatly exaggerated for those purposes.

   Near-synonyms: bug-a-boo, bugaboo, chimera

   The bogeyman of a Halloween-candy poisoner behind every door has animated occasional moral panics against trick-or-treating.

   • 2009 November 11, Anthony Tarricone, “Blaming lawyers a bogeyman to stop health reform”, in CNN‎^[1]:

     With no original ideas or solutions, they've now resorted to bringing out a tried-and-tested bogeymen in a last-ditch attempt to derail much-needed legislation.

   • 2013, Frances Booth, The Distraction Trap:

     Before the Internet it was television. And, if not that, it was radio, films, or games. All have taken their turn as the popular bogeyman, blighting the minds of the young.

   • 2020 November 18, Brian Lowry, “‘Soros’ looks at the life and activism of the right’s favorite bogeyman”, in CNN‎^[2]:

     If there’s a down side to the film, it’s that “Soros” probably doesn’t devote enough time to the way its subject has become a favorite bogeyman to conservatives that paint him as the guiding hand behind grassroots campaigns by those intent on discrediting them.

• money bag, moneybag