bullshit
Americannoun
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
interjection
idioms
noun
-
exaggerated or foolish talk; nonsense
-
deceitful or pretentious talk
-
Usually shortened to: bull. (in the British Army) exaggerated zeal, esp for ceremonial drill, cleaning, polishing, etc
verb
-
(intr) to talk in an exaggerated or foolish manner
-
to talk bullshit to
Usage
This word was formerly considered to be taboo, and it was labelled as such in previous editions of Collins English Dictionary . However, it has now become acceptable in speech, although some older or more conservative people may object to its use
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of bullshit
First recorded in 1910–15; bull 1 (perhaps reinforced by bull 2 ) + shit
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Salon's Erin Keane wrote a positive review of "Bullshit Jobs," calling it "nothing short of essential reading for anyone embarking on a career search in 2018."
From Salon • Sep. 3, 2020
Why, then, does Calling Bullshit not use citation footnotes?
From Nature • Aug. 3, 2020
They have also written a book based on the course, Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World, which is set to be published this Tuesday.
From Scientific American • Aug. 3, 2020
In the interview, Maria Konnikova, author of The Confidence Game, is back for another round of Is That Bullshit?
From Slate • Aug. 13, 2019
Fittingly, last year’s Ig Nobel peace award went to the authors of a study called On the Reception and Detection of Pseudo-Profound Bullshit.
From The Guardian • Oct. 1, 2017
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
