Cool MateBullshit vs Crap vs Garbage vs Rubbish
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
Rubbish
InformalTop 2,000 (common)A2noun
Most formal: Garbage
| Bullshit | Crap | Garbage | Rubbish | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈbʊlʃɪt//🇺🇸 //ˈbʊlʃɪt// | 🇬🇧 //kræp//🇺🇸 //kræp// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈɡɑːbɪdʒ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɡɑːrbɪdʒ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈrʌbɪʃ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈrʌbɪʃ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Nonsense or something untrue. | bad or worthless stuff | Waste material; things that are no longer useful. | Something that is worthless or of poor quality. |
| Example | I can't believe you fell for that bullshit. | This movie is total crap. | Please take out the garbage before the truck arrives. | He threw the rubbish in the bin. |
| Register | Informal | Slang | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | - | A2 | A2 |
| 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 | 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! |
| Antonyms | truth, fact | treasure, delight, goodness | treasure, value | treasure, valuable, quality |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 'rubbish' in everyday conversation when expressing dislike for something. It can sound casual or dismissive, so it may not be suitable for formal situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Bullshit vs Crap vs Garbage vs Rubbish
What's the difference between Bullshit, Crap, Garbage, and Rubbish?
Bullshit: Nonsense or something untrue. Crap: bad or worthless stuff Garbage: Waste material; things that are no longer useful. Rubbish: Something that is worthless or of poor quality.
Which is more formal: Bullshit, Crap, Garbage, and Rubbish?
Garbage is the most formal of these.
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. Rubbish: He threw the rubbish in the bin.
Can I use Bullshit, Crap, Garbage, and Rubbish interchangeably?
Not always. Bullshit, Crap, Garbage, and Rubbish 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.