Rubbish
'rʌbɪʃ
Definitions
3 meaningsWaste material; things that are no longer wanted or needed.
'rʌbɪʃ
Worthless material that is rejected or thrown away.
The bins were overflowing with rubbish.
💡 Simply: Rubbish is like the stuff you don't want anymore, like empty food wrappers, broken toys, or anything that goes in the trash can. When you're done with something, it becomes rubbish!
👶 For kids: Rubbish is the trash! Things you don't need anymore.
More Examples
The children were told to tidy up their rubbish.
She threw away the old newspapers and other rubbish.
How It's Used
"The streets were covered in rubbish after the festival."
"Please take out the rubbish."
Worthless or nonsensical words or ideas; something considered of no value.
'rʌbɪʃ
Nonsense; foolish or worthless talk or ideas.
I think his arguments are absolute rubbish.
💡 Simply: Sometimes people say things that don't make sense or are silly. That's rubbish! It’s like saying that pigs can fly or that the sky is green.
👶 For kids: Sometimes people talk silly stuff, and that's called rubbish too.
More Examples
She dismissed his claims as a load of rubbish.
Don't listen to them, it's just a lot of political rubbish.
How It's Used
"That's just complete rubbish, I don't believe a word of it."
"Don't talk such rubbish!"
To criticize severely or dismiss as worthless; to disparage.
'rʌbɪʃ
To criticize severely; disparage.
The reviewers rubbished the film, calling it a disaster.
💡 Simply: If you rubbish something, you're saying it's really, really bad. Imagine you're reviewing a movie, and you think it's the worst you've ever seen – you would rubbish it!
👶 For kids: To rubbish something is to say it is yucky or bad.
More Examples
The artist's work was rubbished by the critics.
She was upset that her efforts were rubbished by her boss.
How It's Used
"The critics rubbished his latest play."
"The film was rubbished by the press."
Synonyms
Debris
Garbage
Junk
Refuse
Bull
Nonsense
Condemn
Criticize
Denounce
Antonyms
Assets
Fact
Logic
Reason
Applaud
Commend
Compliment
Endorse
Praise
Idioms & expressions
rubbish bin
A container for rubbish.
"Please empty the rubbish bin when it's full."
talk rubbish
To say things that are not true or that are not important.
"He's talking rubbish – don't believe him."
From Middle English *rubous*, *rubis* (rubble, debris), from Old French *rubace* or *rubble*, ultimately from Frankish *hrūba* (heap, pile).
The word 'rubbish' has been used since the 14th century to refer to debris and worthless items. It has evolved to include figurative uses, such as nonsense.
Memory tip
Think of the trash can – that's where the rubbish goes.