Bored - bored with - bored of

[Polly]

Hello everybody, this is my very first question here!

I've always used the expression "I'm bored", but I've never used the word "bored" followed by any preposition.
I've heard that some authorities on language reckon that it can only be followed by "with" or "by", but I'm rather sure to have heard some native English speakers say "I'm bored of".

What do you think about that? Is it acceptable?

Thank you very much!

[Alan]

Hi Polly,

Fashions change and this seems to be happening with bored. There is a slight difference between bored by and bored with. You can be bored by politics, meaning that you don't find any interest in people talking about or discussing politics. If you are bored with politics, it means that you personally have had enough of politics, which is being discussed here and now around you or that you yourself are personally involved in it. Bored of frequently makes an appearance nowadays but is found more in spoken rather than written English. It's always difficult to say what is acceptable or not in a case like this because there is no logical reason why it should be with/by/of. After all it's quite usual to say: tired of.
Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Colour Idioms

[Guest]

Thank you for answering so quickly Alan.
Your post was illuminating. I coulnd't perceive the difference between "by" and "with" and thought the two resulting sentences had the same meaning.
Now everything is clear. Thanks again!