Cool MateBullshit vs Crap vs Garbage vs Nonsense
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Bullshit
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Crap
SlangTop 2,000 (common)
Garbage
Top 2,000 (common)A2noun
Nonsense
Top 2,000 (common)C1noun
| Bullshit | Crap | Garbage | Nonsense | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈbʊlʃɪt//🇺🇸 //ˈbʊlʃɪt// | 🇬🇧 //kræp//🇺🇸 //kræp// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈɡɑːbɪdʒ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɡɑːrbɪdʒ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈnɒnsns/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈnɑːnsens//ˈnɑːnsns/"]/ |
| Meaning | Nonsense or something untrue. | bad or worthless stuff | Waste material; things that are no longer useful. | Words or ideas that don't make sense. |
| Example | I can't believe you fell for that bullshit. | This movie is total crap. | Please take out the garbage before the truck arrives. | The statement he made was complete nonsense and had no basis in reality. |
| Register | Informal | Slang | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | - | A2 | C1 |
| 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 | household, kitchen, rotting, bag, pile, tons, take out, collect, remove, bag, can, truck, throw something in the garbage, household, kitchen, rotting, bag, pile, tons, take out, collect, remove, bag, can, truck, throw something in the garbage, absolute, complete, pure, garbage in, garbage out, a piece of garbage, a pile of garbage | 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 |
| Antonyms | truth, fact | treasure, delight, goodness | treasure, value | sense, reason, logic |
| 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. | Confused with 'rubbish' (common in British English) but both can be used in different regions., Using it to describe something worthless in a non-literal sense can sound informal., Mixing up 'garbage' with 'recycling'—not all waste is garbage. | '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). |
| 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. | Used in everyday conversation when discussing waste. Avoid in formal writing—consider using 'waste' or 'refuse' instead. | 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. |
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Frequently asked questions: Bullshit vs Crap vs Garbage vs Nonsense
What's the difference between Bullshit, Crap, Garbage, and Nonsense?
Bullshit: Nonsense or something untrue. Crap: bad or worthless stuff Garbage: Waste material; things that are no longer useful. Nonsense: Words or ideas that don't make sense.
Which is more advanced: Bullshit, Crap, Garbage, and Nonsense?
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. Garbage: Please take out the garbage before the truck arrives. Nonsense: The statement he made was complete nonsense and had no basis in reality.
Can I use Bullshit, Crap, Garbage, and Nonsense interchangeably?
Not always. Bullshit, Crap, Garbage, and Nonsense 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.