rubbish

Everyday

1. Rubbish is things you throw away because they are no longer wanted or useful. tree →
2. Rubbish means nonsense, something silly or untrue. tree →
3. Rubbish (informal, British) means very bad, as in "I'm rubbish at drawing". tree →
4. To rubbish an idea is to say it is worthless. tree →

In the lessons

In the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, rubbish is the usual word; in the USA it is "trash" or "garbage". In lessons on the environment, sort rubbish for recycling, compost food waste, and never drop it as litter. Phrases: rubbish bin, take out the rubbish, talk rubbish, rubbish tip, a load of rubbish.

Examples

• Put the rubbish in the bin. tree →
• Can you take the rubbish out, please? tree →
• We sort our rubbish for recycling. tree →
• Don't talk rubbish! tree →
• That film was rubbish. tree →
• I'm rubbish at skipping, but I'm getting better. tree →
• The beach was covered in rubbish after the storm. tree →
• But he only found a large basket full of rubbish. tree →

Note

Uncountable: some rubbish, a lot of rubbish, not "a rubbish" or "rubbishes". American words: trash, garbage. Calling someone's work "rubbish" is rude; choose kinder words.

In Jewish tradition

In Nehemiah it is the heaps of ruined stone that the builders must clear to rebuild Jerusalem's wall.

Interpretation. The rebuilding of the wall is remembered as a sign of hope and hard work after the exile.

Examples

• And Judah said: 'The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.' (Writings NEH.4.4, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Uncountable: some rubbish, a lot of rubbish, not "a rubbish" or "rubbishes". American words: trash, garbage. Calling someone's work "rubbish" is rude; choose kinder words.