Cool MateBullshit vs Crap vs Nonsense vs Rubbish
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Bullshit
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Crap
SlangTop 2,000 (common)
Nonsense
Top 2,000 (common)C1noun
Rubbish
InformalTop 2,000 (common)A2noun
Most formal: Nonsense
| Bullshit | Crap | Nonsense | Rubbish | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈbʊlʃɪt//🇺🇸 //ˈbʊlʃɪt// | 🇬🇧 //kræp//🇺🇸 //kræp// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈnɒnsns/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈnɑːnsens//ˈnɑːnsns/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈrʌbɪʃ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈrʌbɪʃ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Nonsense or something untrue. | bad or worthless stuff | Words or ideas that don't make sense. | Something that is worthless or of poor quality. |
| Example | I can't believe you fell for that bullshit. | This movie is total crap. | The statement he made was complete nonsense and had no basis in reality. | He threw the rubbish in the bin. |
| Register | Informal | Slang | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | - | C1 | A2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun | ||
| Collocations | call bullshit, talk bullshit, feed bullshit | total crap, talk crap, load of crap, crap out, think it's crap | absolute, arrant, complete, spout, talk, put up with, nonsense about, a load of nonsense, a lot of nonsense, make a nonsense of something, absolute, arrant, complete, spout, talk, put up with, nonsense about, a load of nonsense, a lot of nonsense, make a nonsense of something, absolute, arrant, complete, spout, talk, put up with, nonsense about, a load of nonsense, a lot of nonsense, make a nonsense of something | domestic, household, garden, bag, pile, tons, put out, collect, remove, decay, rot, bag, bin, skip, absolute, complete, total, talk, rubbish about, a load of rubbish, what rubbish!, absolute, complete, total, talk, rubbish about, a load of rubbish, what rubbish! |
| Antonyms | truth, fact | treasure, delight, goodness | sense, reason, logic | treasure, valuable, quality |
| Common mistakes | Using it in formal writing or speech., Confusing with 'bull' or 'shit' as separate terms. | Confused with 'crap' vs 'crap out' meaning to fail or stop working., Misused as a formal term; it's very informal., Often used too frequently; should be used sparingly in speech. | 'Nonsensical' is sometimes confused with 'nonessential' (they mean different things)., Some learners forget to use 'nonsense' as a noun (e.g., saying 'that's nonsense' instead of 'that is nonsensical')., Confusing 'nonsense' with 'gibberish' (which refers to incomprehensible speech). | Using 'rubbish' in a formal context., Confusing 'rubbish' with 'trash', thinking they are interchangeable in all dialects., Using 'rubbish' only to refer to physical waste, rather than ideas or opinions. |
| Usage notes | Used primarily in casual speech. Avoid in formal settings or around people who might find it offensive. | Used informally to express disappointment or to describe poor quality. Avoid in formal or professional settings. | Use 'nonsense' to describe something silly or illogical. It's suitable for both casual and serious contexts, but can sound harsh if addressing someone's opinion directly. | Use 'rubbish' in everyday conversation when expressing dislike for something. It can sound casual or dismissive, so it may not be suitable for formal situations. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Bullshit vs Crap vs Nonsense vs Rubbish
What's the difference between Bullshit, Crap, Nonsense, and Rubbish?
Bullshit: Nonsense or something untrue. Crap: bad or worthless stuff Nonsense: Words or ideas that don't make sense. Rubbish: Something that is worthless or of poor quality.
Which is more formal: Bullshit, Crap, Nonsense, and Rubbish?
Nonsense is the most formal of these.
Which is more advanced: Bullshit, Crap, Nonsense, and Rubbish?
Nonsense is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Bullshit: I can't believe you fell for that bullshit. Crap: This movie is total crap. Nonsense: The statement he made was complete nonsense and had no basis in reality. Rubbish: He threw the rubbish in the bin.
Can I use Bullshit, Crap, Nonsense, and Rubbish interchangeably?
Not always. Bullshit, Crap, Nonsense, and Rubbish are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.