complete garbage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "complete garbage" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong negative opinion about something, indicating that it is of very poor quality or completely worthless. Example: "The movie was complete garbage; I couldn't believe how bad the acting was."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

Page called the reports "complete garbage".

The Guardian

What I will tell you is that the New Statesman story is complete garbage".

Independent

"To come in here and say, 'We are going to politically promise something' is complete garbage.

The Guardian

And, suddenly what comes, as you go around, it gives you complete garbage.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"Right now, the world says that every private equity company is a troubled company, and that's just complete garbage".

The New York Times

Some said that a child's DNA could predict which sports he might be good at, a claim that an expert quoted in the GAO's report called "complete garbage".

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

The Victorian police commissioner, Graham Ashton, has previously labelled claims the state was an unsafe place to live as "complete and utter garbage".

The Guardian

A spokesman for Cooper said: "The spreading of lies like this only damages the Labour party and should be seen as exactly what it is – complete and utter garbage".

The Guardian

His evaluation of Intel's latest proposed fix for the Meltdown/Spectre issue: "the patches are COMPLETE AND UTTER GARBAGE".

TechCrunch

Ashton said it was "complete and utter garbage" to say Melbourne was not a safe place.

Huffington Post

At a press conference late yesterday, Ashton referred to Dutton's claims as "complete and utter garbage".

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "complete garbage", be mindful of your audience and the context. While effective for expressing strong disapproval, it may be too informal or harsh for certain professional settings. Consider using a more moderate phrase if necessary.

Common error

Avoid using "complete garbage" in formal writing or presentations. Its informality can undermine your credibility and may not be well-received by a professional audience. Instead, opt for more measured and professional criticism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "complete garbage" functions as a subjective assessment, used to express strong disapproval or dismissal. It serves to communicate that something is considered worthless, nonsensical, or of extremely poor quality, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Academia

8%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "complete garbage" is a common and informal way to express strong disapproval. While grammatically correct, its usage is best suited for casual contexts due to its bluntness. Ludwig AI confirms its role as a subjective assessment and its communicative purpose of conveying a negative opinion. Its frequency is very common, with primary contexts being news and media. For more formal settings, consider alternatives like "utter rubbish" or "absolute nonsense".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utter rubbish

This alternative employs British English, which may alter its perceived formality for some audiences.

absolute nonsense

Replaces the informal term "garbage" with a more formal term, "nonsense", slightly reducing impact.

total rubbish

Replaces "complete" with "total", which has similar emphasis but is less colloquial than "garbage".

pure bunkum

This alternative uses the less common term "bunkum", altering the tone and possibly requiring more context for full understanding.

sheer balderdash

This phrase introduces a somewhat archaic term, "balderdash", which might soften the forcefulness.

arrant twaddle

Uses two less common words that might require clarification depending on the audience.

total hogwash

Maintains the informal tone but replaces the bluntness of "garbage" with "hogwash", slightly softening the criticism.

patently absurd

Switches from an informal expression to a more formal and descriptive assessment.

manifestly false

Shifts the focus to the truthfulness of the subject, rather than its quality.

downright ludicrous

Emphasizes the ridiculousness of the subject, which is a shift from simply being bad or worthless.

FAQs

How can I use "complete garbage" in a sentence?

You can use "complete garbage" to express that something is of very poor quality or entirely worthless. For example, "The plot of that movie was "complete garbage"."

What can I say instead of "complete garbage"?

You can use alternatives like "utter rubbish", "absolute nonsense", or "total rubbish" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it appropriate to use "complete garbage" in a professional setting?

While "complete garbage" is understandable, it's generally considered too informal for professional environments. Opt for more professional alternatives, such as "unacceptable", "unsatisfactory", or "substandard".

What's the difference between "complete garbage" and "utter garbage"?

The phrases "complete garbage" and "utter garbage" are very similar in meaning and can often be used interchangeably. The choice between them often depends on personal preference or the specific context. "Utter" may sound slightly more formal or emphatic to some speakers.