Cool MateNo shit vs Of course vs Really
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)
Really
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
| No shit | Of course | Really | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //nəʊ ʃɪt//🇺🇸 //noʊ ʃɪt// | 🇬🇧 //əv kɔːs//🇺🇸 //əv kɔrs// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈriːəli//ˈrɪəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈriːəli/"]/ |
| Meaning | An expression used to show that something is obvious or true. | Definitely, it's obvious. | very or truly |
| Example | Did you see that movie? It was amazing! No shit! | Are you joining us for dinner tonight? Of course! | I really enjoy going to the beach. |
| Register | Slang | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | ||
| 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 | really want, really good, really sure, really excited, really important |
| Antonyms | - | - | seldom, never |
| 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'. | Using it in place of 'real' when describing a noun., Confusing it with 'really' in terms of degree, e.g., 'really good' instead of 'very good'. |
| 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. | Used to emphasize an adjective or another adverb. It can be informal in casual conversations but is accepted in most contexts; avoid overusing it in formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: No shit vs Of course vs Really
What's the difference between No shit, Of course, and Really?
No shit: An expression used to show that something is obvious or true. Of course: Definitely, it's obvious. Really: very or truly
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! Really: I really enjoy going to the beach.
Can I use No shit, Of course, and Really interchangeably?
Not always. No shit, Of course, and Really 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.