British origin.
Evolving from the term of abuse bugger, meaning a sodomite or irritating person. To play 'silly buggers' is to generally act the fool, lark about, waste time or generally mess things up. As illustrated by English band The Bus Station Loonies song "Playing Silly Buggers" (1995).
"They were too busy playing silly buggers to get the job completed in time".
Beardy finishes taking a piss in the toilet and on leaving the Bathroom turns the light ON.
This is seen by Hobbit and Hobbit says "Turn that fucking light off or i'll send you to the Silly Buggers Society!"
Beardy replies "Oh yes, I am a Silly Bugger aren't I!" He then returns to Bathroom and turns off light.
1. Act performed by politicians in the day to day business of pretending to govern.
2. Employed in business sector to evoke questions of intellectual capacity, integrity and competence.
3. Smart-alec behavior in any meeting format deemed useless.
Went to a meeting at worktoday but everyone was just playing silly bugger so I left early.
The Minister of Health was giving a press briefing but it turned out to just be a game of silly bugger while dodging the press questions.
The telemarketer phoned at dinner so I played silly bugger by giving them your information. Hope you don't mind.
Of British origin, often heard in British, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand army units whjen referring to someone who behaves stupidly while in combat. Sometimes the expression can also be used to refer to going off on exercises.
"Oh, look! The silly bugger has gone and gotten his arse shot off!" Or, when referring to going on an exercise, "It looks like it's time for us to go and play silly bugger again."
Nickname given to bales of marijuana thrown overboard or out of airplanes. Origin is reportedly from members of the US Coast Guard in the area of Southern Florida.
"Base we've got some square groupers floating outside of Miami harbor."