bullshit
High (in informal contexts)Highly informal, vulgar, taboo in formal settings.
Definition
Meaning
Nonsense, lies, or exaggerated talk intended to deceive, mislead, or impress.
Used as a general-purpose expletive expressing strong disbelief, dismissal, or contempt for something said or written. Also used as a verb meaning 'to lie or talk nonsense to someone' or as an adjective/adverb meaning 'worthless, nonsensical'.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A compound word with strong pejorative force. Primarily targets the falsity or stupidity of speech/writing. As a mass noun, it is not typically pluralized ('bullshits'). Can be used as an interjection ("Bullshit!").
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more common and marginally more acceptable in general American informal use. In the UK, 'bollocks' is a close parallel in frequency and register.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries strong vulgarity. Its conceptual link to male bovine excrement is equally strong.
Frequency
Very high frequency in informal speech in both regions, especially among younger demographics.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
VERB + bullshit: talk, spew, spout, believe, smell (detect)bullshit + NOUN: detector, artistbullshit + PREP: about (He told me bullshit about his qualifications.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Bullshit artist (a habitual liar)”
- “Call bullshit on (to challenge as false)”
- “Not taking any bullshit (intolerant of nonsense)”
- “Bullshit detector (metaphorical ability to spot lies)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Avoided in writing and formal meetings. May be used in very casual internal discussions to dismiss unrealistic plans or marketing hype.
Academic
Taboo. Would damage credibility if used in any formal context. Used informally among students/peers to critique weak arguments.
Everyday
Extremely common in casual speech among friends to express disbelief or critique.
Technical
Not used in technical documentation. May be used colloquially among experts to dismiss flawed methodologies or data.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He's just bullshitting you about his connections.
- Stop bullshitting and tell me what really happened.
American English
- Don't try to bullshit me, I've seen the report.
- He bullshitted his way through the entire interview.
adverb
British English
- The meeting ran bullshit long for no reason.
- He talks bullshit fast when he's nervous.
American English
- The system is bullshit complicated.
- He got promoted bullshit quickly, which annoyed everyone.
adjective
British English
- That's a bullshit excuse and you know it.
- I'm tired of these bullshit regulations.
American English
- It was a bullshit call by the referee.
- She gave me some bullshit story about her car breaking down.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (Context: Understanding the word) That story is bullshit. It's not true.
- "Bullshit!" he said, when he heard the lie.
- I think his promises are just bullshit.
- She knew he was bullshitting about his job.
- The politician's entire speech was an elaborate piece of bullshit designed to distract us.
- I called bullshit on his claim when I saw the contradictory evidence.
- The company's sustainability report was a masterclass in corporate bullshit, full of buzzwords and empty promises.
- He's a charismatic bullshit artist who can convince anyone of anything for about five minutes.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BULL (large, strong animal) creating SHIT (manure). The word combines these two strong images to describe talk that is as worthless and messy as animal waste.
Conceptual Metaphor
FALSE/MEANINGLESS IDEAS ARE EXCREMENT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'бычий навоз'. This is not the idiomatic meaning.
- The closest common equivalent in force and register is 'чушь', 'ерунда', or the stronger 'хрень', 'фигня'.
- Avoid using 'брехня' (more 'lie') or 'враньё' unless the context is specifically about intentional deception.
- As a verb, it is closer to 'нести чушь' or 'заливать' than to standard verbs for lying ('лгать').
Common Mistakes
- Using it in formal contexts or with strangers.
- Incorrect pluralisation ('bullshits' as a noun is rare).
- Overusing as a generic intensifier, which weakens its impact.
- Confusing it with 'BS' (initialism) or 'B.S.' in writing, which is slightly more euphemistic.
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts would using the word 'bullshit' be LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is classified as a vulgar/taboo term due to its scatological reference. It is inappropriate in formal, professional, and polite company.
Yes, commonly. It means to deceive or talk nonsense to someone (e.g., 'He bullshitted the investor').
Both mean 'foolish or meaningless talk'. 'Bullshit' is vulgar, stronger, and often implies the speaker knows it's false. 'Nonsense' is standard and milder, often implying silliness rather than deception.
Yes, depending on context: 'nonsense', 'rubbish' (UK), 'baloney', 'poppycock', 'hogwash', 'malarkey', or simply 'that's not true'.