trash
trash — noun
1. written works, films, television programs, or other products that are so poor in
written works, films, television programs, or other products that are so poor in quality that they are considered worthless or not worth anyone's time.
Yumi could not believe people paid money to watch that trash on television.
be + trash: expressing poor quality
The novel was utter trash, with flat characters and a boring plot.
utter trash — intensifier collocation
Devika threw the magazine aside, muttering that it was complete trash.
Most streaming services are full of trash that nobody watches.
- masterpiece
a work of outstanding quality
文法句型
be + trash
call something + trash
用法筆記
Uncountable — do not say 'a trash' or 'trashes'. Frequently used with intensifiers like 'utter' or 'complete'.
常見錯誤
2. things such as empty food containers, used paper, broken objects, and other unwa
things such as empty food containers, used paper, broken objects, and other unwanted materials that people put in a bin to be taken away.
Christopher tied up the kitchen trash bag and carried it outside.
kitchen trash — typical location collocation
A strong smell of rotting trash filled the alley behind the restaurant.
Bao emptied the office trash into a large black bin every evening.
The city collects household trash from residential streets on Tuesday mornings.
Please put the empty bottles in the recycling bin, not the regular trash.
文法句型
take out the trash
throw something in the trash
用法筆記
In British English, 'rubbish' is the more common word for this sense. 'Trash' in this meaning is standard American English. Uncountable — 'the trash is full', not 'the trash are full'.
常見錯誤
3. an offensive word for a person or group of people that the speaker considers wor
an offensive word for a person or group of people that the speaker considers worthless, contemptible, or beneath notice.
How dare you call my friends trash — they have done nothing to hurt you.
call someone + trash — insult structure
The coach told the press that anyone who quit on the team was trash.
Rania stormed out of the meeting, calling her critics a bunch of trash.
Eric refused to listen when people spoke about his community like they were trash.
- scum
even stronger insult, implies moral depravity
- lowlife
focuses on social status and behaviour
- good-for-nothing
less offensive, emphasizes uselessness
文法句型
call someone + trash
be + trash (referring to people)
用法筆記
Strongly offensive and dehumanizing. Use with extreme caution or avoid in polite conversation. Not typically used to describe oneself.
常見錯誤
trash — verb
1. to get rid of something by putting it in a bin or sending it for disposal, becau
to get rid of something by putting it in a bin or sending it for disposal, because it is no longer wanted or needed.
Élise decided to trash all the old letters that no longer mattered.
trash + old documents — typical object
Antonia trashed the expired food from the refrigerator before cleaning the shelves.
Never trash important papers without checking if they contain personal data.
The movers trashed the broken furniture instead of taking it to the new house.
- throw away
neutral, slightly more common in conversation
- discard
more formal
- dump
implies putting somewhere in a careless way
文法句型
trash + object (something unwanted)
用法筆記
More informal than 'throw away' or 'dispose of'. In formal writing, 'discard' or 'dispose of' are preferred.
常見錯誤
2. to deliberately wreck, ruin, or make a mess of a room, building, vehicle, or oth
to deliberately wreck, ruin, or make a mess of a room, building, vehicle, or other property, often in anger or for fun.
Someone trashed the public garden by pulling up flowers and breaking wooden benches.
The teenagers trashed the empty house, smashing windows and kicking holes in the walls.
trashed + building — property damage context
Angry fans trashed the stadium locker room after their team lost the championship game.
Dahlia returned home to find that burglars had trashed every room in the house.
文法句型
trash + object (room, building, vehicle)
用法筆記
This sense implies deliberate, often violent damage. 'Trash' in this meaning is stronger than 'mess up' but less formal than 'vandalize'.
常見錯誤
3. to criticize a person, their work, or an idea in a very harsh and often unfair w
to criticize a person, their work, or an idea in a very harsh and often unfair way, especially in public or in the media.
Critics trashed the director's new film before it even opened in theaters.
critics trashed + film — common media collocation
Sivan trashed her rival's proposal during the board meeting, calling it unrealistic.
Online reviewers trashed the restaurant after a single bad meal there.
Jude trashed his opponent's voting record in a long and angry speech on the floor.
文法句型
trash + object (person, idea, work)
用法筆記
Stronger and more personal than 'criticize'. Often implies the criticism is excessive or unfair. Common in political, entertainment, and online contexts.