[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/bollocks/)

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# bollocks

noun (plural, rude, UK, Ireland, Australia); interjection

«bollocks» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (rude, UK) Nonsense or rubbish: said when you think something is untrue or stupid. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bollocks/#m1)
2. (rude) Used as a swear word when you are annoyed, like "damn". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bollocks/#m2)
3. (very rude, slang) The testicles. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bollocks/#m3)
4. (rude, UK, in "the dog's bollocks") Something excellent. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bollocks/#m4)

### In the lessons

Met in real speech and in adult films and books, never in polite or school writing. It tells the reader a character is angry, rude, or sure something is false. Phrases: talk bollocks, bollocks to that, the dog's bollocks, bollocks something up (make a mess of it).

### Examples

- "That's bollocks!" he said when he heard the rumour. (rude) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bollocks/#x1)
- Oh, bollocks — I've missed the bus. (rude) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bollocks/#x2)
- He bollocksed up the whole plan. (rude) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bollocks/#x3)
- Bollocks to that, I'm not doing it. (rude) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bollocks/#x4)
- Teachers would call it "nonsense", not "bollocks". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bollocks/#x5)
- You'll hear it in films, but don't say it in class. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bollocks/#x6)

### Note

Rude, swearing: do not use at school or with adults. Polite words: nonsense, rubbish. Mainly British, Irish and Australian; Americans use other words. Also spelled ballocks.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «bollocks» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bollocks/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«bollocks» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/bollocks.html) on Mova free.