bummer!

[Delapoma]

I have seen and heard this expression many times, (bummer)is it similar to what a pity! Thanks.

[Searching for language]

Originally Posted by evelio

I have seen and heard this expression many times, (bummer)is it similar to what a pity! Thanks.

Similar, yes, but not necessarily interchangeable.

Bummer is much more casual.

If your neighbour's dog died, you'd say, "What a pity, he was such a nice dog." Saying bummer in that instance is too casual.

If you had tickets to a game, but it rained and the game was cancelled, then a friend saying "That's a bummer" is very appropriate.

[Masood_S]

Originally Posted by evelio

I have seen and heard this expression many times, (bummer)is it similar to what a pity! Thanks.

In what context did you hear it?

[susiedqq]

It CAN mean pity, but usually means "That's awful!" , "That's a no-win situation" or "Too bad!"'

[Charlie Bernstein]

It comes from the 1960s. A bummer was a bad LSD trip. The meaning expanded to encompass a variety of misfortunes - just as meaning of trip expanded to encompass a variety of strange or crazy situations.