Bulldust

💬 noun · Phrases
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1940s Still common
Definition
Nonsense, lies, or exaggeration — a polite euphemism for "bullshit"; also, the fine, powdery dust found on outback roads.
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Where "Bulldust" Comes From

"Bulldust" started out as a literal description: the fine, powdery red dust that builds up on unsealed outback roads, easily kicked into blinding clouds by passing vehicles. Print records appear from the 1940s, though the term likely circulated earlier among drovers and outback workers on unsealed tracks.

By the 1940s, Australians had also adopted "bulldust" as a family-friendly stand-in for "bullshit," describing exaggerated stories, excuses, or outright lies without resorting to the cruder word. The double meaning — literal outback hazard and metaphorical nonsense — gave the word a useful ambiguity, allowing it to be deployed in polite company while still landing with appropriate force.

Source: Wikipedia — "Bulldust"

Example Sentence
"That excuse is a load of bulldust."
Word Type
Noun
Category
💬 Phrases
Origin
🇦🇺 Australian English
Usage
Informal / Spoken
Era
1940s
Still say it?

Do Aussies still say “Bulldust”?

How Aussies Actually Use It

"That's a load of bulldust" is the classic use — calling out something as nonsense, an exaggeration, or a flat-out lie.

The literal sense is still very much alive too, especially among outback drivers, who treat a stretch of bulldust on the road as a genuine hazard.

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