Word
bullshit
Phoneticsbull·shit, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbʊɫˌʃɪt/
UK/bˈʊlʃɪt/
Definitions
01lies or nonsense
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Slang · Vulgar
n. nonsense or lies that someone says to impress you or hide the truth.
n. untrue, exaggerated, or nonsensical assertions, often characterised by a complete lack of concern for the truth.
“Don't listen to him; he's just telling you a load of bullshit.”
“The politician's speech was dismissed as pure bullshit by critics who pointed out the glaring lack of verifiable data.”
02unfair treatment
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Slang · Vulgar
n. something that is very unfair or annoying.
n. an unfair, unreasonable, or frustrating situation or set of rules.
“It is total bullshit that we have to work on a holiday without extra pay.”
“The employees were tired of the corporate bullshit and the constant changes to their health insurance plans.”
Synonyms
03to lie or deceive
C1 · Advanced Slang · Vulgar
v. to lie to someone or try to trick them by talking a lot.
v. to deceive or mislead someone through lies or exaggerated talk. Often used transitively.
“Stop trying to bullshit me; I know you weren't at home last night.”
“He managed to bullshit his way through the interview despite having almost no experience in the field.”
04to chat casually
C1 · Advanced Slang · Vulgar · American English
v. to talk with friends about unimportant things just to pass the time.
v. to engage in idle, casual conversation without a serious purpose.
“We spent the whole afternoon just bullshitting on the porch.”
“After the meeting, the team stayed behind for an hour just bullshitting about their weekend plans.”
05absurd or fake
C1 · Advanced Slang · Vulgar
adj. describing something that is fake, unfair, or makes no sense.
adj. characterised by absurdity, dishonesty, or a lack of validity.
“That is a bullshit excuse and you know it.”
“The committee rejected the proposal, calling the projected budget figures completely bullshit.”
Real-World Examples
“They thought they could give us a load of bullshit and we would just take it.”
Fans leave the Goldstone Ground for the last time.” “It has been widely criticised for sexualising women’s sport, with retired Olympic swimmer Ariarne Titmus saying she thought this type of “bullshit” marketing was a thing of the past.” Etymology
From bull + shit. Figurative use as a noun referring to useless or untrue information is attested from the 1910s.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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