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[0714] Call bullshit

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English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

  • To publicly challenge someone's statement or claim because you believe it to be untrue, dishonest, or nonsensical.
  • It's an active accusation.

Origin

  • Derived from the noun bullshit (nonsense, lies).
  • To call something is to identify or announce it. So, to call bullshit means to identify and announce something as bullshit.
  • Became common in the late 20th century.

Synonyms & Related Expressions

  • Challenge someone.
  • Call someone out. (More general, for bad behaviour or lies)
  • Expose something as false.
  • Debunk. (More formal)
  • Cry foul. (Suggest unfairness or deception)
  • Say 'That's BS/bullshit'. (The statement form)

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

  • Call cap. (Recent slang, from no cap meaning no lie. Calling cap means identifying something as a lie.)
  • Call someone out.
  • Put someone on blast. (Publicly expose or criticize, often online)

Milder/More Formal:

  • Question the validity of...
  • Express skepticism about...
  • Challenge the accuracy of...
  • Raise doubts about...
  • Dispute the claim.

Situational Appropriateness

  • Informal to vulgar. Accusatory and confrontational. Use with caution.
  • Definitely avoid in most professional or formal settings unless you are in a position to make such a direct challenge and prepared for the fallout.
  • Using call BS is slightly less harsh but still very informal and direct.

Misunderstanding Warnings

  • The meaning is clear, but non-native speakers must understand this is a strong, direct accusation that can easily escalate conflict.
  • It's not a casual disagreement.

Examples

  • He claimed he worked late, but I saw him leave at 5. I'm going to call bullshit.
  • The politician made promises he can't keep. The journalist decided to call bullshit during the interview.
  • If you think his excuse sounds fake, you should call bullshit on it.

Dialogue

Mark: Sarah says she ran a marathon with no training at all.

Lisa: I call bullshit. That's basically impossible without getting injured. Did she show any proof?

Mark: No, just said it.

Lisa: Yeah, I definitely call bullshit on that story.

Social Media Examples

  • Tweet: Seeing a lot of misinformation about the new policy. Time to call bullshit. Here are the facts: [link]
  • Forum post: User claims to have inside info, but their story keeps changing. I call bullshit.
  • Comment: He's blaming everyone else for his mistake? Nah, gotta call BS on that.

Response Patterns

  • The person whose statement is challenged will likely become defensive, try to justify their claim, or become angry. What? That's not true!
  • Others present might take sides or wait to see the evidence.
  • The situation can become confrontational.

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

After someone declares they will call bullshit:

  • They are expected to present their reasons or evidence for the challenge. Why do you say that? / What makes you think it's bullshit?
  • The person being challenged is expected to respond to the accusation.

Conversation Starter

  • No.
  • It's an action taken within a conversation or situation where a potentially false claim has been made.

Intonation

  • Usually said with conviction and a challenging tone.
  • Stress on call and bullshit. I'm going to CALL BULLSHIT.

Generation Differences

  • More common from Gen X onwards.
  • Understood by most, but the directness might be jarring to older or more reserved individuals.

Regional Variations

  • Common in North America, understood in other English-speaking regions.
Not a chance
🎲 Get lost