boogerbear
The bogeyman — the imaginary critter parents use to make kids behave.
Also called boogabear, boogeybear, buggerbear, booger bear.
Updated September 21, 2026
boogerbear pronunciation
/BOOG-er-bair/
Meaning
A made-up monster that gets after kids who stay out after dark or won't settle down. Southern and Appalachian families have threatened little ones with boogerbears for generations. Sometimes the word softens into a teasing nickname for a mischievous child or pet. Either way, the first picture is something waiting in the dark beyond the porch light.
How folks use it
- “You better get in this house before the boogerbear gets you.”
- “Ain't no boogerbears out tonight — Grandpa killed 'em all last night.”
Origin and etymology
Variant of older bugbear, mixed with Southern booger for a spook or hobgoblin. Dictionary of American Regional English records boogerbear (and spellings like boogabear, buggerbear) chiefly in the South and South Midland as the hobgoblin used to scare children. Mid-1900s Southern kids also played a night hiding game singing that there ain't no boogers out tonight.
Frequently asked questions
Is a boogerbear a real animal?
In everyday talk it is make-believe scare talk. Campfire stories sometimes treat "booger bear" like a cryptid, but the slang meaning is bogeyman.