shit

1.exclamationB1

Definition

a rude word that people say when they feel angry, annoyed, or shocked about something that has just happened.

Example

Shit! Amelia just told me she forgot her passport at home.

exclamation expressing sudden alarm

Oh shit, I think I locked my keys inside the car again.

Synonyms

damn
less offensive, more common in American English
crap
milder alternative, still informal

Grammar Patterns

used as an interjection

Usage Note

Considered highly offensive by many people. Avoid using this word in formal situations, at work, or around people you do not know well.

1.nounB1

Definition

the brown material that the body gets rid of through the bowels after food has been digested.

Example

The dog left a pile of shit on the neighbour's lawn this morning.

uncountable; concrete visual context

Christopher had to clean bird shit off the windscreen of his van.

Common collocations

dog shit
bird shit
cow shit
pile of shit

Synonyms

poo
child-friendly, much milder
dung
used for animal waste, formal
faeces
medical term, formal

Grammar Patterns

uncountable; no article

Usage Note

Vulgar term. In polite conversation, use 'poo', 'faeces', or 'stool'. 'Manure' or 'dung' are preferred for animal waste in farming contexts.

2.nounB2

Definition

the act of pushing waste out of the body through the bowels — used when referring to a single instance of this bodily function.

Example

The dog needs a walk every morning so it can do its shit.

singular noun: 'a shit' / 'do its shit'

Adina said she had to take a shit before the long bus ride.

Common collocations

have a shit
take a shit
do a shit

Synonyms

poo
child-friendly equivalent
bowel movement
polite, medical term

Grammar Patterns

a + noun; usually singular with 'a'

Usage Note

Often used with the verb 'take', 'have', or 'do' (e.g. 'have a shit', 'take a shit'). Avoid in polite company — use 'go to the toilet' or 'have a bowel movement' instead.

3.nounB2

Definition

a medical problem where waste matter leaves the body in a very liquid state far more often than is healthy.

Example

Isabela got terrible shit after eating street food on her trip.

uncountable; health context

The baby has had the shits all week and the doctor gave medicine.

Common collocations

have the shits
the shits
bad case of the shits

Synonyms

diarrhoea
the formal medical term
the runs
informal, slightly less vulgar

Grammar Patterns

uncountable; no article

Usage Note

Often used in the plural form 'the shits' to refer to a bout of diarrhoea. 'Diarrhoea' is the standard medical term and far more appropriate in formal or clinical settings.

4.nounB1

Definition

something that is not true, not sensible, or not worth your attention — used to show strong dislike or disagreement with what someone says or produces.

Example

Asher told me that aliens built the pyramids, but that's complete shit.

uncountable noun for nonsense speech

I cannot believe the manager sold us this shit for two hundred dollars.

Common collocations

talking shit
complete shit
absolute shit
total shit

Synonyms

rubbish
much milder, British English
crap
equally informal but slightly less offensive
nonsense
neutral, not vulgar

Grammar Patterns

uncountable; used to describe speech, ideas, or objects

Usage Note

Can describe either spoken nonsense ('talking shit') or physical objects of poor quality ('this shit'). 'Bullshit' is a related but stronger term specifically for deliberate lies or exaggeration.

Common Mistakes

The movie was a shit' (using as countable noun).

The movie was shit' (uncountable).

'Shit' meaning 'rubbish' is uncountable; do not add 'a'.

5.nounB2

Definition

a person who is unpleasant, dishonest, or treats other people badly — used as a strong insult.

Example

Padma called her ex-boyfriend a shit for stealing her savings.

countable: 'a shit' as an insult

That lying little shit told the boss I was the one who broke the machine.

Common collocations

little shit
total shit
selfish shit

Synonyms

jerk
much milder, not vulgar
bastard
similarly offensive but with different connotation
arsehole
British equivalent, same level of offensiveness

Grammar Patterns

a + noun; used as an insult

Usage Note

A strong and offensive insult. Can be softened slightly with modifiers like 'little' or 'selfish', but remains vulgar. Compare with 'jerk' or 'idiot' for milder alternatives.

6.nounB2

Definition

cruel or unfair words and actions directed at someone — used to describe ill-treatment, verbal abuse, or disrespect.

Example

Amelia will not take any more shit from her rude supervisor at work.

collocation: 'take shit from someone'

The new intern gets a lot of shit from the older staff members.

Common collocations

take shit
give someone shit
put up with shit
get shit from

Synonyms

abuse
formal, not vulgar, and covers both verbal and physical
grief
milder, informal ('give someone grief')

Grammar Patterns

uncountable; often used with verbs 'take', 'give', 'put up with'

Usage Note

Commonly paired with the verb 'take' (meaning 'accept' or 'tolerate'), usually in negative sentences or questions. 'I won't take any shit' means 'I refuse to be treated badly'.

7.nounB2

Definition

used instead of 'anything' in negative sentences to emphasise that there is absolutely nothing of a particular thing.

Example

The hospital waiting room did not have shit to read or look at.

negative construction: 'not have shit'

After working all week, Christopher still does not know shit about the project.

Common collocations

don't know shit
don't have shit
can't do shit
not give a shit

Synonyms

anything
standard, non-vulgar equivalent
a thing
milder negative construction ('don't know a thing')

Grammar Patterns

not + V + shit; used in negative statements to mean 'nothing'

Usage Note

Only appears in negative contexts. 'Don't know shit' means 'know nothing'; 'don't have shit' means 'have nothing'. Without a negative ('knows shit') the meaning flips to 'knows something' only in specific informal contexts (e.g. 'he knows his shit' = 'he is knowledgeable').

Common Mistakes

I know shit about cars' (positive, means 'I know nothing' in slang but confusing).

I don't know shit about cars

always use with 'not' to mean 'nothing'.

Word family

shitty
adjectiveB2
shite
nounC1
bullshit
nounB2
bullshit
verbB2
shithole
nounC1
shithead
nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/4

All four words describe something untrue, worthless, or of low quality, but they differ in offensiveness and usage. 'Shit' is the most vulgar and versatile — it can describe spoken nonsense ('talking shit'), poor-quality objects ('this chair is shit'), or general unpleasantness. 'Bullshit' (also vulgar) specifically means deliberate lies or exaggerated claims, not just low quality. 'Crap' is the milder cousin: equally informal but less offensive, making it safer in casual conversation. 'Rubbish' (British) and 'nonsense' are the polite, neutral options — they carry no vulgarity and are appropriate in professional settings. For example: 'His excuse was complete bullshit' implies he was lying; 'This phone is crap' comments on poor quality; 'The report is full of nonsense' is a polite critique at work.

bullshitcrap ↗rubbish ↗nonsense ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

pile of shit
piece of shit

Phrases

not give a shit
when the shit hits the fan
in the shit

Prepositions

shit on

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'shit' comes from Old English 'scitte' (diarrhoea), which traces back to the Proto-Germanic root '*skit-' meaning 'to separate' or 'to expel'. This same ancient root is also the source of the word 'shear' (to cut). The word has existed in English for over a thousand years, though its use as a general-purpose swear word is a much more recent development. By the 1500s it was already recorded as a vulgar term for faeces, and over the 20th century it expanded into the wide range of meanings — from nonsense to bad treatment to an exclamation — that it carries today.

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shit

shit — exclamation

1. a rude word that people say when they feel angry, annoyed, or shocked about some

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

shit — noun

1. the brown material that the body gets rid of through the bowels after food has b

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

2. the act of pushing waste out of the body through the bowels — used when referrin

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

3. a medical problem where waste matter leaves the body in a very liquid state far

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

4. something that is not true, not sensible, or not worth your attention — used to

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

5. a person who is unpleasant, dishonest, or treats other people badly — used as a

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

6. cruel or unfair words and actions directed at someone — used to describe ill-tre

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

7. used instead of 'anything' in negative sentences to emphasise that there is abso

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

shit — verb

1. to push bodily waste out through the anus — a crude, everyday word for going to

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

2. to feel so terrified or anxious that you might lose control of your bowels — a c

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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