bull dust: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowInformal, Colloquial
Quick answer
What does “bull dust” mean?
Nonsense, exaggerated or untrue talk.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Nonsense, exaggerated or untrue talk; rubbish.
Australian/New Zealand slang for exaggerated stories, lies, or pointless talk; also refers literally to fine dust stirred up by cattle.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Not standard in British or American English. It is a regionalism of Australian/New Zealand English.
Connotations
In Aus/NZ: dismissive, rustic, humorous. In other dialects: largely unknown or interpreted literally.
Frequency
Virtually unused in British or American contexts outside of awareness of Australian slang.
Grammar
How to Use “bull dust” in a Sentence
[Subject] is/talks/says bull dust.That's (a load of) bull dust!Don't [verb] me that bull dust.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bull dust” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He's just bull dusting about his new job.
- Stop bull dusting and tell the truth.
American English
- He's just bull dusting about his big promotion.
- Quit bull dusting me.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, would be highly informal and potentially offensive; e.g., 'The sales projections are pure bull dust.'
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Informal dismissal of an untrue statement among friends in Australia/NZ; e.g., 'Ah, that's bull dust!'
Technical
Not used. The literal meaning (fine cattle dust) could appear in agricultural contexts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bull dust”
- Using it in formal writing.
- Using it outside Australian/NZ contexts where it may not be understood.
- Confusing it with 'bullshit' in terms of register strength.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is milder than 'bullshit' but still informal and potentially rude in formal contexts. Its offensiveness depends on the listener and setting.
You can, but it will likely not be understood as slang for 'nonsense' by most people. They may interpret it literally.
Literally, it refers to the fine, dry dust stirred up by cattle, common in arid outback regions.
Informally, yes. 'To bull dust' means to talk nonsense or exaggerate, though it's less common than the noun.
Nonsense, exaggerated or untrue talk.
Bull dust is usually informal, colloquial in register.
Bull dust: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbʊl ˈdʌst/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbʊl ˈdʌst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “not worth a bull dust: completely worthless.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a bull kicking up DUST to hide the truth - what it's saying is just 'bull dust'.
Conceptual Metaphor
WORTHLESS IDEAS ARE WORTHLESS DUST (kicked up by a bull).
Practice
Quiz
In which region is 'bull dust' primarily used as slang for 'nonsense'?