crap

¹ American  

[krap] / kræp /

noun

1. Vulgar.

   1. excrement.

   2. an act of defecation.

2. Slang: Sometimes Vulgar.

   1. nonsense; drivel.

   2. falsehood, exaggeration, propaganda, or the like.

3. refuse; rubbish; junk; litter.

   Will you clean up that crap!

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verb (used without object)

crapped, crapping

1. Vulgar. to defecate.

verb (used with object)

crapped, crapping

1. Slang: Sometimes Vulgar. to talk nonsense to; attempt to deceive.

verb phrase

1. crap on

   1. to treat badly, especially by humiliating, insulting, or slighting.

   2. to cause misery, misfortune, or discomfort.

2. crap around

   1. to behave in a foolish or silly manner.

   2. to avoid work.

3. crap up to botch, ruin, or cheapen; make a mess of.

crap ² American  

[krap] / kræp /

noun

1. (in craps) a losing throw, in which the total on the two dice is 2, 3, or 12.

2. craps.

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verb phrase

1. crap out

   1. Also called seven out.  (in the game of craps) to throw a 7 rather than make one's point.

   2. Slang. to abandon a project, activity, etc., because of fear, cowardice, exhaustion, loss of enthusiasm, etc.

   3. Slang. to break a promise or fail to fulfill a duty or obligation; renege.

crap ¹ British  

/ kræp /

noun

1. nonsense

2. rubbish

3. another word for faeces

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verb

1. (intr) another word for defecate

crap ² British  

/ kræp /

noun

1. a losing throw in the game of craps

2. another name for craps

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crap Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing crap

• cut the comedy (crap)
• full of crap

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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

Etymology

Origin of crap¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English crap “siftings of grain; chaff,” from Old French c(h)rape “siftings,” or Middle Dutch krappe “anything cut off or separated; scrap of meat”

Origin of crap²

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45; back formation from craps

Explanation

Crap is a versatile word, usually meaning feces, stuff, or garbage. It's definitely slang but not really obscene. This is a word that's on the borderline between acceptable slang and potty language. You can be 100% sure that saying the s-word (which means almost exactly the same thing as crap) will get you in trouble if you said it in class, but crap isn't so clear cut. It's sort of naughty but getting less naughty all the time. But whether you're taking a crap (pooping) or being told to get all the crap (junk) off your desk, you'll find that crap of any kind is never held in high regard.

Example Sentences

For toilet paper, I get a big box every few months sent to me from Who Gives a Crap.

From Slate • Jan. 21, 2024

“They can be a significant way of incentivizing private capital into our infrastructure,” said Republican Sen. Michael Crap of Idaho, the ranking member on the Senate Finance Committee.

From Washington Times • May 18, 2021

Online toilet paper company Who Gives A Crap says sales in Ohio, which began a new round of curfews and business restrictions, have doubled in recent days.

From Washington Post • Nov. 19, 2020

“Many people have mixed feelings about this year, it’s been tough on many levels, but others valued their time in lockdown,” said Oliver Burr, the co-founder of Flaming Crap, in a press release.

From Fox News • Nov. 5, 2020

Crap, “Alone,” a song by a group called Heart.

From "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe" by Benjamin Alire Saenz

Related Words

• bull
• bullshit
• drivel
• nonsense