Cool MateBullshit vs Nonsense vs Rubbish vs What a crock of shit
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Bullshit
Nonsense
Rubbish
What a crock of shit
| Bullshit | Nonsense | Rubbish | What a crock of shit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈbʊlʃɪt//🇺🇸 //ˈbʊlʃɪt// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈnɒnsns/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈnɑːnsens//ˈnɑːnsns/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈrʌbɪʃ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈrʌbɪʃ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈwɒt ə krɒk əv ʃɪt//🇺🇸 //ˈwɑt ə krɑk əv ʃɪt// |
| Meaning | Nonsense or something untrue. | Words or ideas that don't make sense. | Something that is worthless or of poor quality. | A phrase used to say something is nonsense or untrue. |
| Example | I can't believe you fell for that bullshit. | The statement he made was complete nonsense and had no basis in reality. | He threw the rubbish in the bin. | When I heard his excuse, I thought, 'What a crock of shit!' |
| Register | Informal | Neutral | Informal | Vulgar |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | noun | ||
| Collocations | call bullshit, talk bullshit, feed bullshit | 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! | what a load of crap, pure nonsense, complete rubbish, utter bullshit |
| Antonyms | truth, fact | sense, reason, logic | treasure, valuable, quality | - |
| Common mistakes | Using it in formal writing or speech., Confusing with 'bull' or 'shit' as separate terms. | '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. | Using it in formal writing., Confusing it with 'what a load of rubbish'., Not understanding it is considered vulgar. |
| Usage notes | Used primarily in casual speech. Avoid in formal settings or around people who might find it offensive. | 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. | This phrase is informal and often used to express disbelief or disdain in casual conversations. It's not suitable for formal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Bullshit vs Nonsense vs Rubbish vs What a crock of shit
What's the difference between Bullshit, Nonsense, Rubbish, and What a crock of shit?
Bullshit: Nonsense or something untrue. Nonsense: Words or ideas that don't make sense. Rubbish: Something that is worthless or of poor quality. What a crock of shit: A phrase used to say something is nonsense or untrue.
Which is more formal: Bullshit, Nonsense, Rubbish, and What a crock of shit?
Nonsense is the most formal of these.
Which is more advanced: Bullshit, Nonsense, Rubbish, and What a crock of shit?
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. Nonsense: The statement he made was complete nonsense and had no basis in reality. Rubbish: He threw the rubbish in the bin. What a crock of shit: When I heard his excuse, I thought, 'What a crock of shit!'
Can I use Bullshit, Nonsense, Rubbish, and What a crock of shit interchangeably?
Not always. Bullshit, Nonsense, Rubbish, and What a crock of shit 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.