Cool MateThat's crazy vs That's fucked up vs That's messed up vs That's unbelievable
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
That's crazy
That's fucked up
That's messed up
That's unbelievable
| That's crazy | That's fucked up | That's messed up | That's unbelievable | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ðæts ˈkreɪzi//🇺🇸 //ðæts ˈkreɪzi// | 🇬🇧 //ðæts fʌkt ʌp//🇺🇸 //ðæts fʌkt ʌp// | 🇬🇧 //ðæts mɛst ʌp//🇺🇸 //ðæts mɛst ʌp// | 🇬🇧 //ðæts ˌʌnˈbiːləvəbl//🇺🇸 //ðæts ˌʌnˈbiːləvəbəl// |
| Meaning | That's unbelievable or surprising. | It means something is very wrong or unfair. | That is unfair or wrong. | It's hard to believe; it's shocking. |
| Example | Did she really win the lottery? That's crazy! | When I heard they fired her for no reason, I thought, 'That's fucked up.' | I can't believe they didn't give her a raise, that's messed up! | When she won the lottery, I thought, 'That's unbelievable!' |
| Register | Informal | Vulgar | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| Collocations | that's insane, you can't be serious, seriously, that's crazy | say that's fucked up, think that's fucked up, feel that's fucked up | that's messed up, so messed up, really messed up | That's unbelievable news, That's unbelievable behavior, That's unbelievable luck |
| Common mistakes | Used in formal contexts where it's inappropriate., Confused with 'that's insane' — similar, but can imply more seriousness. | Using in a formal context, which can be inappropriate., Confusing with lighter expressions of discontent., Not understanding the strong emotion behind the phrase. | Used in formal situations where it's inappropriate., Overuse among friends, leading to less impact., Omitting context, making the phrase unclear. | Used in negative situations instead of positive ones., Saying 'This is unbelievable' instead of 'That's unbelievable' in conversations., Confusing with 'That's incredible' which has a more positive connotation. |
| Usage notes | Used in casual conversations to express disbelief or surprise, typically among friends. Avoid in formal settings or professional communication. | Use in informal conversations to express strong disapproval or disbelief. Avoid in formal settings. | Use when expressing shock or disapproval in casual conversations. Avoid in formal settings. | Commonly used in casual conversation to express surprise or disbelief. Avoid in overly formal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: That's crazy vs That's fucked up vs That's messed up vs That's unbelievable
What's the difference between That's crazy, That's fucked up, That's messed up, and That's unbelievable?
That's crazy: That's unbelievable or surprising. That's fucked up: It means something is very wrong or unfair. That's messed up: That is unfair or wrong. That's unbelievable: It's hard to believe; it's shocking.
Which is more formal: That's crazy, That's fucked up, That's messed up, and That's unbelievable?
That's unbelievable is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
That's crazy: Did she really win the lottery? That's crazy! That's fucked up: When I heard they fired her for no reason, I thought, 'That's fucked up.' That's messed up: I can't believe they didn't give her a raise, that's messed up! That's unbelievable: When she won the lottery, I thought, 'That's unbelievable!'
Can I use That's crazy, That's fucked up, That's messed up, and That's unbelievable interchangeably?
Not always. That's crazy, That's fucked up, That's messed up, and That's unbelievable 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.