Cool MateGreat vs That'd be the bomb
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Great
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
That'd be the bomb
SlangTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most formal: GreatMost common: Great
| Great | That'd be the bomb | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɡreɪt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɡreɪt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðæt wəd bi ðə bɒm//🇺🇸 //ðæt wəd bi ðə bɑm// |
| Meaning | very good or impressive | That would be great or amazing. |
| Example | This pizza is great and very tasty! | Going to that concert would be the bomb! |
| Register | Neutral | Slang |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, feel, look, just, really, absolutely, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, really, truly, very, be, feel, look, just, really, absolutely, be, become, very, great big, no great, be, become, very, great big, no great | that'd be the bomb, sounds like it’d be the bomb |
| Antonyms | terrible, poor, bad | That'd be terrible, That'd be awful, That'd be horrible |
| Common mistakes | Using 'great' in a sarcastic way without context., Confusing 'great' with 'grate' when writing., Overusing 'great' instead of finding more specific adjectives. | Used in formal conversations., Confused with 'that'll be the bomb' which is incorrect., Said too seriously, it should be light-hearted. |
| Usage notes | Use 'great' to describe something positive or impressive. It's suitable in both spoken and written contexts. Avoid using it in a sarcastic tone, as it can change the meaning. | Used informally to express excitement. Avoid in formal settings and professional contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Great vs That'd be the bomb
What's the difference between Great and That'd be the bomb?
Great: very good or impressive That'd be the bomb: That would be great or amazing.
Which is more formal: Great and That'd be the bomb?
Great is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Great and That'd be the bomb?
Great is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Great: This pizza is great and very tasty! That'd be the bomb: Going to that concert would be the bomb!
Can I use Great and That'd be the bomb interchangeably?
Not always. Great and That'd be the bomb 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.