Meaning & use
total nonsense
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Meanings
phraseuncountableinformal
Something that is completely untrue, foolish, or impossible to believe.
Grammar: Used as an uncountable noun phrase; do not say 'a total nonsense' or 'total nonsenses'.
Patterns
- be total nonsense
- call something total nonsense
- talk total nonsense
The rumor that the school is closing is total nonsense.
He said the moon is made of cheese, which is total nonsense.
Don't listen to that advice; it's total nonsense.
phraseuncountableinformal
Words or behavior that have no meaning or make no sense.
Grammar: Used to describe speech or writing that is meaningless or absurd.
Patterns
- speak total nonsense
- write total nonsense
The instructions were total nonsense; nobody could follow them.
After the accident, he was speaking total nonsense.
Common combinations
- talk total nonsense
- If you think I believe that story, you're talking total nonsense.
- call something total nonsense
- The scientist called the theory total nonsense.
- be total nonsense
- His excuse for being late was total nonsense.
- a load of total nonsense
- That article was a load of total nonsense.
Synonyms and how they differ
- rubbish
- British informal; means something is untrue or of poor quality, but can also mean physical waste, while 'total nonsense' is only about ideas or statements.
- garbage
- American informal; similar to 'rubbish', but can also mean household waste.
- baloney
- Informal and slightly old-fashioned; means foolish or deceptive talk, but is less strong than 'total nonsense'.
Opposites
Commonly confused: total nonsense or nonsense?
total nonsense vs nonsense
'Nonsense' alone means something foolish or untrue, but it can be less strong. 'Total nonsense' emphasizes that it is completely foolish or untrue.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'total nonsense' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Total nonsense' is uncountable and means something is completely untrue or foolish. Option B fits because it describes a false idea. Option An is wrong because 'a total nonsense' is not used; option C confuses it with 'nonsense' meaning 'unable to speak sensibly'; option D treats it as a physical object.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “total nonsense”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.