bullshit

English

Etymology

From bull +‎ shit. In use since 1914.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbʊlʃɪt/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪt

Noun

bullshit (uncountable)

2. (vulgar, literally) Feces produced by a bull.

   Synonym: manure

   • 2016 November 6, “Multilevel Marketing”, in Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, season 3, episode 29, John Oliver (actor), via HBO:

     Oh, I get it! So it's not a pyramid, it's just pyramid-shaped. You know, like a Dorito, or an Angry Bird, or just a pile of bullshit.

4. (vulgar, slang, usual sense) Statements that are false or exaggerated to impress or cheat the listener.

   Don't pay any attention to him. He talks a lot of bullshit.

   • 2010, BioWare, Mass Effect 2 (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC:

     The Illusive Man: Shepard. You're making a habit of costing me more than time and money.
     Shepard: I'm sorry, I'm having trouble hearing you. I'm getting a lot of bullshit on this line.

6. (vulgar, slang) Statements that are transparently or offensively false.

   That's total bullshit! I called your office and they said that you didn't come in!

   Fucking load of bullshit! You smashed his skull and dropped the F-bomb at him, and now you're claiming that he assaulted you?!

8. (rhetoric) Statements that are intentionally misleading, whether true or not.
10. (philosophy) Statements made without regard for their truth value.

    Synonym: nonsense

    • 2005, Harry Frankfurt, On Bullshit:

      Respect for the truth and a concern for the truth are among the foundations for civilization. I was for a long time disturbed by the lack of respect for the truth that I observed... bullshit is one of the deformities of these values.

    • 2010, BioWare, Mass Effect 2 (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: After Collector Base: Final Battle:

      Illusive Man: Shepard, you're making a habit of costing me more than time and money.
      Shepard: I'm sorry, I'm having trouble hearing you. I'm getting a lot of bullshit on this line.

12. (vulgar, slang) Synonym of shit (in its sense of any stuff, especially when viewed negatively or with collegial vulgarity).

    These rules cover how to do your laundry, how to fold your shirts, how to shine your shoes... You know, all that bullshit.

    • 1975, “Fight the Power (Part 1 & 2)”, in The Heat Is On, performed by The Isley Brothers:

      And when I rolled with the punches I got knocked on the ground
      By all this bullshit going down

14. (card games, possibly vulgar) A card game in which players try to discard their hands first, following rules that encourage bluffing, calling others' bluffs, and penalizing others by tricking them into inaccurate accusations.

    Anyone want to play a few hands of bullshit?

Synonyms

• (deceptive or exaggerated nonsense): See Thesaurus:nonsense
• (patently or offensively false nonsense): See Thesaurus:lie
• (abbreviation, nonsense generally): BS
• (card game): BS, cheat, I doubt it

Derived terms

• be on one's bullshit
• bullshido
• bullshit artist
• bullshit bingo
• bullshit job
• bullshittee
• bullshitter
• bullshitty
• bullshoot
• bullshot
• money talks, bullshit walks

 

Descendants

• → Czech: bulšit

Translations

faeces of a bull

• Bulgarian: лайно на бик (lajno na bik)
• Finnish: härän sonta
• Galician: bosta (gl) f
• Romanian: căcat de taur

vulgar slang for deceptive or exaggerated nonsense — see also nonsense

• Albanian: please add this translation if you can
• Arabic:

  Gulf Arabic: خَرَابِيط‎ (χɐˈrɑːbitˁ), حَچِي فَاضِي‎ (ħɐʃ͡ʒi fɑːðˤi)

• Armenian: please add this translation if you can
• Bulgarian: хуйня (hujnja)
• Catalan: collonades (ca) f pl
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 廢話／废话 (zh) (fèihuà), 狗屁 (zh) (gǒupì), 放屁 (zh) (fàngpì)

• Czech: kecy m, kravina (cs) f, nesmysl (cs) m
• Danish: pis (da) n
• Dutch: lulkoek (nl) m, kletskoek (nl) m, lariekoek (nl) m, gelul (nl) n, onzin (nl) m, bullshit (nl) m, smoes (nl) m, zever (nl) m, nonsens (nl) f
• Esperanto: fekaĵo (in context, vulgar), stultaĵo, falsaĵo, merdo (in context, vulgar, proscribed)
• Finnish: paskapuhe (fi), hevonpaska (fi), soopa (fi), sonta (fi), paska (fi), pötypuhe (fi), hölynpöly (fi)
• French: conneries (fr) f pl, baratin (fr) m, pipeau (fr) m
• Georgian: ყლეობა (q̇leoba)
• German: Quatsch (de) m, Gequatsche (de) n, durchsichtiges Geschwätz n
• Greek: μαλακίες (el) f pl (malakíes), μπούρδες (el) f pl (boúrdes)
• Hungarian: süketelés, duma (hu), süket duma, hülyítés, kamu (hu), blöff (hu), humbug (hu), mese habbal (hu), szófosás (hu)
• Icelandic: kjaftæði (is) n, bull (is) n, þvættingur m
• Indonesian: cuma ngomong gede, omong besar, omong kosong (id)
• Irish: cacamas
• Italian: cazzata (it) f (vulg.), stronzata (it) f (vulg.), coglionata (it) f (rare)(vulg.), minchiata (it) f (vulg.)
• Japanese: でたらめ (ja) (detarame)
• Khmer: please add this translation if you can
• Korean: 헛소리 (ko) (heotsori)
• Latin: muscerdae f pl
• Latvian: please add this translation if you can
• Lithuanian: nesąmonė f pl
• Macedonian: срање n (sranje)
• Malay: mengarut
• Mongolian: please add this translation if you can
• Navajo: łį́į́ʼ bichąąʼ, dóola bichąąʼ, tʼáá ádzaagóó
• Nepali: वाहियात (vāhiyāt), हावा (ne) (hāwā)
• Norwegian: pisspreik, okseavføring, bull (no)
• Persian: کسشعر‎ (koseše'r, kosše'r)
• Polish: gówno prawda (pl), pierdoły (pl) pl, pieprzenie (pl) n, sranie (pl) c (vulgar), bzdura (pl) f, pierdolenie (pl) c (vulgar), sranie w banię (pl) n, sranie w banię i po ścianie n, pierdzielenie o Chopinie n
• Portuguese: besteira (pt) f, asneira (pt) f, merda (pt) f
• Romanian: pulărie f, rahat (ro), căcat (ro) n, vrăjeală f
• Russian: фигня́ (ru) f (fignjá), хуета́ (ru) f (xujetá) (vulgar), пиздёж m (pizdjóž) (vulgar), хуйня́ (ru) m (xujnjá) (vulgar), херня́ (ru) m (xernjá) (vulgar), чепуха́ (ru) m (čepuxá), бред си́вой кобы́лы (ru) m (bred sívoj kobýly) (lit.: delirium of a grey mare), чушь соба́чья f (čušʹ sobáčʹja)
• Serbo-Croatian:

  Cyrillic: срање n

  Roman: sranje (sh) n

• Spanish: tontería (es) f, pendejadas (es) f, cuento chino m, idiotez (es) f, huevada (es) f, mierda (es) f, caca (es) f, chamullo (es) m, gilipollez, leseras f (Chile), chorrada (es) f, bosta (es), mierda de toro
• Swedish: skitsnack (sv) n, strunt (sv) n
• Thai: ล้อเล่น (th) (lór lên)
• Turkish: saçmalık (tr), palavra (tr)
• Ukrainian: маячня (uk) f (majačnja)
• Vietnamese: please add this translation if you can
• Welsh: cachu rwtsh m

vulgar slang for patently or offensively false statements — see also nonsense

• Arabic: هُرَاء‎ (hurāʔ)

  Gulf Arabic: مَصْخَرَة‎ (mɐsˤχɐrə), مَهْزَلَة‎ (mɐhzɐlə)

• Finnish: paska (fi)
• French: n’importe quoi (fr) m, conneries (fr) f, foutaises (fr) f
• Japanese: でたらめ (ja) (detarame)
• Korean: 엉터리 (ko) (eongteori)
• Polish: gówno prawda (pl) f
• Portuguese: palhaçada (pt)
• Russian: пиздёж m (pizdjóž), хуйня́ (ru) m (xujnjá), херня́ (ru) m (xernjá)
• Serbo-Croatian:

  Cyrillic: срање n

  Roman: sranje (sh) n

• Spanish: bulo (es) m, trola f, mentira (es) f, mierda (es) f
• Turkish: saçmalık (tr)

card game

• Finnish: fusku (fi)
• Greek: σκατά (el) n pl (skatá)
• Icelandic: lygari (is) m
• Japanese: ダウト (dauto)
• Romanian: trombon (ro) n
• Russian: верю-не-верю (verju-ne-verju) (I believe - I don't believe)
• Spanish: desconfío (es) m, mentiroso (es) m
• Swedish: bluffstopp
• Turkish: blöf (tr)

See also

• apeshit
• batshit
• bearshit
• birdshit
• bullcrap
• catshit
• chickenshit
• cowshit
• dogshit
• donkeyshit
• goatshit
• horseshit
• pigshit
• ratshit
• sheepshit
• whaleshit
• wormshit

 

• See also Thesaurus:nonsense

Adjective

bullshit (comparative more bullshit, superlative most bullshit)

1. (vulgar, slang) absurd, irrational, or nonsensical (Most often said of speech, information, or content.)

   That's the most bullshit excuse I've ever heard.

   They're bullshit jobs

Verb

bullshit (third-person singular simple present bullshits, present participle bullshitting, simple past and past participle bullshitted or bullshit or (rare) bullshat)

1. (transitive, intransitive, vulgar, slang) To tell lies, exaggerate; to mislead; to deceive.

   I think you're bullshitting. Let’s just call your office and see if you even came in.

   You’re bullshitting me. I called your office and you never even came in.

2. (intransitive, vulgar, slang) To have casual conversation with no real point; to shoot the breeze.

   I will probably just go and bullshit with Joe for awhile.

3. (intransitive, vulgar, slang) To come up with on the spot; to improvise.

   We just went on stage and bullshitted the whole concert because we didn't know any songs.

Synonyms

• (all senses): crap (Indian English)

Translations

tell lies, exaggerate

• Finnish: puhua paskaa (fi)
• French: ^{(please verify)} dire des conneries, exagérer (fr), baratiner (fr)
• Greek: δουλεύω (el) (doulévo) (somebody)
• Hungarian: átvág (hu), szédít (hu), linkel (hu), hülyít (hu), szívat (hu)
• Indonesian: ngomong besar
• Italian: dire cazzate
• Javanese: nggedebus
• Latvian: diršana
• Maori: paraparau
• Polish: pierdolić (pl), pieprzyć (pl)
• Portuguese: enganar (pt) m
• Romanian: mânca căcat
• Russian: пизде́ть (ru) (pizdétʹ), дури́ть (ru) (durítʹ)
• Serbo-Croatian: srati (sh)
• Spanish: mentir (es), fanfarronear (es)
• Thai: เว่อ (wêr), โม้ (th) (móh)
• Turkish: saçmalamak (tr)

have casual conversation with no real point

• Dutch: ouwehoeren (nl), lullen (nl)
• Finnish: puhua paskaa (fi), jauhaa paskaa (fi)
• French: blablater (fr)
• Hungarian: szövegel (hu), süketel (hu)
• Italian: cazzeggiare (it)
• Latvian: sūdu gvelšana
• Polish: pierdolić (pl), pieprzyć (pl)
• Portuguese: bater papo (pt) (Brazil)
• Romanian: mânca căcat
• Russian: пизде́ть (ru) (pizdétʹ), база́рить (ru) (bazáritʹ), чеса́ть языко́м (ru) (česátʹ jazykóm) (to scratch with tongue)
• Swedish: prata strunt, snacka skit (sv)
• Thai: ไร้สาระ (th) (ráisăará)

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

• Italian: ^{(please verify)} dire coglionate
• Spanish: ^{(please verify)} huevear (es), ^{(please verify)} decir tonterías (es)

Interjection

bullshit

1. (vulgar, slang) An expression of disbelief at what one has just heard.

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:bullshit

Translations

expression of disbelief

• Bulgarian: хуя ми (huja mi), хуйня (hujnja)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: ^{(please verify)} 狗屁 (zh) (gǒupì)

• Dutch: onzin (nl)
• Finnish: paskanmarjat (fi), ja paskat, vitut (fi), kissan viikset (fi), katin kontit (fi) (non-vulgar alternatives)
• French: mon œil (fr), n’importe quoi (fr), mon cul (fr), tu parles (fr), ben voyons (fr)
• Greek: μαλακίες (el) (malakíes), πούτσες (poútses)
• Indonesian: cuma ngomong gede
• Latvian: nedirs
• Lithuanian: nesąmonė f
• Macedonian: не сери (ne seri)
• Polish: pierdolisz!, gówno prawda! (pl)
• Portuguese: mentira (pt) f, nada a ver (pt)
• Romanian: din pulă, pe mă-ta, pe dracu, pe naiba
• Russian: пизди́шь (ru) (pizdíšʹ), не пизди́ (ne pizdí), хуя́ (xujá)
• Serbo-Croatian: sereš!
• Spanish: tonterías (es) f pl, pendejadas (es) f pl, huevadas f pl, chorradas f pl, mierda (es) f, mierda de torro f
• Swedish: skit (sv)
• Thai: ขี้โม้ (th) (kêe móh)

Anagrams

• shitbull

French

Etymology

Borrowed from English bullshit.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bul.ʃit/
  • IPA^(key): (Quebec) /bʊl.ʃit/

• Audio (CAN)

  (file)

Noun

bullshit f (uncountable)

1. (Quebec, colloquial) bullshit

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

Borrowed from English bullshit.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bʉlʃiːt/

Noun

bullshit m (definite singular bullshiten, uncountable)
bullshit n (definite singular bullshitet, uncountable)

1. (slang) false information

   Synonyms: løgn, skrøne, tull, tøys

2. (slang) irritating or useless object

   Synonyms: drit, faenskap, skit