Cool MateGarbage
UK /["/ˈɡɑːbɪdʒ/"]/US /["/ˈɡɑːrbɪdʒ/"]/
Definition
waste food, paper, etc. that you throw away
In simple words: Waste material; things that are no longer useful.
Examples
- Please take out the garbage before the truck arrives.
- The garbage was piled high after the party last night.
- Don't throw your garbage on the ground; use a trash can.
- He thinks that these ideas are garbage and not worth discussing.
- I need to sort the garbage into recyclable and non-recyclable bins.
Usage notes
Used in everyday conversation when discussing waste. Avoid in formal writing—consider using 'waste' or 'refuse' instead.
Grammar pattern
noun + verb (e.g. 'throw away + garbage')
Memory hint
Think of a 'garbage can'—a place where you throw out unwanted things.
Collocations
- 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
Synonyms
- rubbish
Antonyms
- treasure
- value
Common mistakes
- 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.