dustbin
B1Informal, everyday
Definition
Meaning
A container for household rubbish or waste.
A place or situation where unwanted or discarded things end up; metaphorically, something considered worthless or obsolete.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily refers to a container kept indoors or just outside a home. The word emphasizes the domestic, everyday nature of the container.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'dustbin' is the standard term for a household rubbish container. In American English, the equivalent term is 'trash can' or 'garbage can'. 'Dustbin' is rarely used in American English and would sound distinctly British.
Connotations
In British English, it has neutral, practical connotations. In American English, if used, it might sound quaint or old-fashioned.
Frequency
Very high frequency in UK English; very low to zero in US everyday speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
put/throw something in/into the dustbinempty the dustbintake the dustbin outVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “dustbin of history”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in contexts like waste management services.
Academic
Rare in formal writing; may appear in historical or sociological texts discussing waste or domestic life.
Everyday
Very common in UK English for domestic contexts.
Technical
Used in waste management and environmental engineering, though more specific terms like 'household waste container' are preferred.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I need to dustbin those old magazines.
- He dustbinned the proposal without reading it.
American English
- She trashed the old letters.
- The committee binned the idea.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The dustbin lorry comes on Tuesdays.
- It's a dustbin bag full of clothes.
American English
- The garbage truck is loud.
- It's a trash bag full of clothes.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please put the empty packet in the dustbin.
- The dustbin is full.
- Could you take the dustbin out to the curb for collection?
- I found the missing key at the bottom of the kitchen dustbin.
- Outdated technologies often find their way into the dustbin of history.
- The council has introduced new rules about what can go in your recycling dustbin.
- Critics argued that the policy proposal belonged in the dustbin, citing its flawed economic assumptions.
- The concept of a linear economy—take, make, dispose—is increasingly being consigned to the dustbin of obsolete ideas.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
DUST + BIN: Think of a BIN where you put things that will turn to DUST (decay).
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER FOR THE UNWANTED / PLACE OF REJECTION (e.g., 'the idea was thrown in the dustbin of history').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as 'мусорное ведро' for all contexts; 'мусорный бак' or 'контейнер для мусора' might be more accurate for larger outdoor bins.
- The idiom 'dustbin of history' translates as 'свалка истории'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'dustbin' in American English contexts.
- Confusing 'dustbin' (larger, for general waste) with 'wastepaper basket' (smaller, for paper).
- Misspelling as 'dust bin' (two words).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most common American English equivalent for the British 'dustbin'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'dustbin' is almost never used in contemporary American English. The standard terms are 'trash can' or 'garbage can'.
'Bin' is a more general, shorter term that can refer to any container for waste (dustbin, recycling bin, litter bin). 'Dustbin' specifically refers to the main container for general household rubbish.
Yes, informally in British English, 'to dustbin' something means to throw it away or reject it, e.g., 'I dustbinned the old brochures.'
It is a metaphorical idiom meaning a place where obsolete ideas, failed policies, or outdated institutions are consigned to be forgotten. It originates from a translation of a phrase used by Leon Trotsky.
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