Rubbish

Pronunciation

• GenAm IPA: /ˈrÊŒbɪʃ/
• Hyphenation: rub + bish

Origin

Anglo-Norman rubouses, of Unknown origin; presumably ultimately from Proto-Germanic *raub- ("to break") (from whence rob, via meaning “plunder, destroy”). Related to rubble.

Online Etymology Dictionary

Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh Edition

In verb sense “to criticize”, attested 1953 in Australian and New Zealand slang.

Full definition of rubbish

Adjective

1. (chiefly AU, NZ, British, colloquial) Exceedingly bad; awful; terrible; crappy.This has been a rubbish day, and it's about to get worse: my mother-in-law is coming to stay.

Interjection

1. (chiefly AU, NZ, British, colloquial) Expresses that something is exceedingly bad, terrible or awful.The one day I actually practice my violin, the teacher cancels the lesson.Aw, rubbish! Though at least this means you have time to play football...
2. Expresses that what was recently said is untruth or nonsense.Rubbish! I did nothing of the sort!

Synonyms

• (expresses that what was recently said is untruth or nonsense) nonsense, bullshit, bollocks

Noun

1. (chiefly Australian, NZ, British) Garbage, junk, refuse, waste.The rubbish is collected every Thursday in Gloucester, but on Wednesdays in Cheltenham.
2. Nonsense.Everything the teacher said during that lesson was rubbish. How can she possibly think that a bass viol and a cello are the same thing?
3. Fragments of buildings; ruins; debris.
• DrydenHe saw the town's one half in rubbish lie.

Synonyms

Derived terms

• rubbish bin

Related terms

• rubble

Verb

1. (British) To denounce, to criticise, to denigrate, to disparage.

Derived terms

• rubbisher