Word
horseshit
Phoneticshorse·shit, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈhɔɹsˌʃɪt/
UK/hˈɔːsʃɪt/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. a very rude and offensive way to say something is not true or is nonsense. You use it when you are angry or want to show someone is lying.
n. an extremely vulgar and offensive expression used to describe something as nonsense or a lie. Often used to dismiss an argument or statement as entirely false.
Examples
“I don't believe a word of that horseshit.”
“He told me he was busy, but I knew it was just horseshit because he was at the bar.”
“The politician's latest speech was dismissed by the opposition as pure horseshit, lacking any concrete evidence to support the claims made about the economy.”
Examples
simple
“I don't believe a word of that horseshit.”
contextual
“He told me he was busy, but I knew it was just horseshit because he was at the bar.”
complex
“The politician's latest speech was dismissed by the opposition as pure horseshit, lacking any concrete evidence to support the claims made about the economy.”
Real-World Examples
“Stallone’s claim that he faced down the studio, Sumner added, was “horseshit”, part of a “tremendous marketing campaign” in the run-up to the Oscars.” Etymology
From horse + shit.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
- 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.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL 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: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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