# Is "bum" offensive?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bum-offensive/249794>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 11, 2004, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bum-offensive/249794 "2004-06-11T10:56:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bum-offensive/249794/41 "2004-06-17T20:43:15Z")

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> [@Milum](#):
>
> I have always held the opinion that the french are affected phonies, but in the case of the term\*\* bun\*\* over **bum** I think that **bun** is more tasteful and appropriate.

But if you ask a little old lady to move her _bun_, don’t you run the risk that she’ll think you’re talking about her hairstyle? At least you would in the U.S.

I’m a prude when it comes to language, and I always use the word “rear” to refer to that part of the body, as in one of my favorite expressions, “I don’t give a rodent’s rear.”

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