Cool MateNo shit vs Of course
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
No shit
SlangTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Of course
Top 1,000 (very common)
Most formal: Of courseMost common: Of course
| No shit | Of course | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //nəʊ ʃɪt//🇺🇸 //noʊ ʃɪt// | 🇬🇧 //əv kɔːs//🇺🇸 //əv kɔrs// |
| Meaning | An expression used to show that something is obvious or true. | Definitely, it's obvious. |
| Example | Did you see that movie? It was amazing! No shit! | Are you joining us for dinner tonight? Of course! |
| Register | Slang | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| Collocations | no shit, Sherlock, no shit, really, no shit, of course | of course not, of course yes, of course you can, of course it is |
| Common mistakes | Used in formal writing or speech., Confused with 'no kidding' or 'really' in different contexts., Overused to the point of losing emphasis. | Using it in formal writing where a different expression is needed., Confusing it with other affirmations like 'certainly' or 'definitely'. |
| Usage notes | Used informally to emphasize the obviousness of a statement. Not appropriate in formal situations. | Used in informal and formal situations to affirm something obvious. Avoid in highly formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: No shit vs Of course
What's the difference between No shit and Of course?
No shit: An expression used to show that something is obvious or true. Of course: Definitely, it's obvious.
Which is more formal: No shit and Of course?
Of course is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: No shit and Of course?
Of course is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
No shit: Did you see that movie? It was amazing! No shit! Of course: Are you joining us for dinner tonight? Of course!
Can I use No shit and Of course interchangeably?
Not always. No shit and Of course 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.