The idiomatic use of “bullshit” versus “dogshit” reflects differences in metaphorical associations tied to the animals and their societal perceptions. Here’s an analysis:
Bullshit
- Meaning: Refers to lies, nonsense, or exaggeration, often with the connotation of deliberate deceit or manipulation[1][5][6].
- Etymology: The term “bull” in this context may derive from Middle English or Old French words meaning fraud or deceit, combined with “shit” to emphasize falsity or worthlessness[4][5].
- Cultural Association: Bulls are large, imposing animals, and their waste metaphorically represents something big and messy—hence its use for grandiose lies or nonsense. The term “bullshit” emerged in the early 20th century and has since become a common way to call out falsehoods[5][6].
Dogshit
- Meaning: Describes something of poor quality, disgusting, or abominable. It emphasizes worthlessness rather than deceit[3][6].
- Etymology: The term likely stems from the literal unpleasantness of dog feces, which is a common urban nuisance. Unlike bull manure (which can be used as fertilizer), dog waste is seen as entirely useless[4][6].
- Cultural Association: Dogs are ubiquitous in human environments, and their waste is a frequent source of irritation in urban settings. This association makes “dogshit” a fitting metaphor for something everyday yet unpleasant and inferior.
Why They Differ
- Animal Symbolism:
- Bulls are associated with strength and dominance, so their excrement metaphorically conveys something large-scale and impactful, even if negative (e.g., lies or exaggerated claims).
- Dogs, being closer to humans in daily life, represent familiarity but also nuisance when it comes to their waste. Thus, “dogshit” implies something mundane yet undesirable.
- Contextual Usage:
- “Bullshit” is often used to challenge dishonesty or exaggeration in communication.
- “Dogshit” focuses on quality judgments, labeling something as bad or worthless without implying deceit.
- Historical Development:
- “Bullshit” has older roots (early 20th century) and evolved as a critique of rhetoric and falsehoods.
- “Dogshit” appears later (mid-20th century) and reflects a more straightforward critique of quality.
In summary, these idioms reflect how language adapts animal imagery to express distinct human frustrations: one with dishonesty (bullshit), the other with inferiority (dogshit)[4][6].
引用:
[1] bullshit noun – Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/bullshit_1
[2] 19 Old-Timey Ways to Call B.S. – Mental Floss https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/502300/19-old-timey-ways-call-bs
[3] dog shitの意味・使い方・読み方 | Weblio英和辞書 https://ejje.weblio.jp/content/dog+shit
[4] What’s up with dog shit, horse shit, and bull shit? : r/etymology – Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/etymology/comments/1ce6shd/whats_up_with_dog_shit_horse_shit_and_bull_shit/
[5] Bullshit – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullshit
[6] Fecal compounds – Language Log https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=24426
[7] Best Joke Ever: What’s the Funniest Word for “Bullshit”? https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/whats-the-funniest-word-for-bullshit
[8] 20 Synonyms & Antonyms for BULLSHIT | Thesaurus.com https://www.thesaurus.com/browse/bullshit
[9] Bullshit, Horseshit, Batshit & Apeshit. All animal excrement … – Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/Showerthoughts/comments/3aza4m/bullshit_horseshit_batshit_apeshit_all_animal/
[10] Dogshit – Definition, Meaning & Synonyms – Vocabulary.com https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/dogshit
[11] BULLSHIT | English meaning – Cambridge Dictionary https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/bullshit
[12] Adam Sharp on X: “Different types of animal poop and what they mean https://x.com/AdamCSharp/status/1528828613025472519
[13] DOGSHIT Definition & Meaning – Dictionary.com https://www.dictionary.com/browse/dogshit
[14] BULLSHIT の定義と意味｜Collins英語辞典 https://www.collinsdictionary.com/jp/dictionary/english/bullshit
[15] A matrix of -shits – Strong Language – WordPress.com https://stronglang.wordpress.com/2017/11/07/a-matrix-of-shits/
[16] Dog shit – Definition, Meaning & Synonyms – Vocabulary.com https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/dog%20shit
[17] bullshitの意味・使い方・読み方 – 英辞郎 – アルク https://eow.alc.co.jp/search?q=bullshit
[18] bullshit – English Collocations – WordReference.com https://www.wordreference.com/englishcollocations/bullshit
[19] Full article: On bullshit in cultural policy practice and research https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10286630902806080
[20] “Culture and Bullshit for the new normal” – LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/culture-bullshit-new-normal-ta%C3%AEss-quart%C3%A1pa-gaicd-faiea-gia-cert-
[21] dog shit – Wiktionary, the free dictionary https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dog_shit
[22] On bullshit in cultural policy practice and research https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10286630902806080
[23] Japanese park’s English dog turd warning minces no words【Why … https://soranews24.com/2021/11/20/japanese-parks-english-dog-turd-warning-minces-no-words%E3%80%90why-does-engrish-happen%E3%80%91/
[24] ‘Post Truth: why we have reached peak bullshit and what we can do … https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/documents-publications/library/library-blog/posts/post-truth-why-we-have-reached-peak-bullshit-and-what-we-can-do-about-it/
[25] word choice – Proper term for dog waste https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/6207/proper-term-for-dog-waste
[26] Life Lessons in Fighting the Culture of Bullshit – The Atlantic https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/05/life-lessons-in-fighting-the-culture-of-bullshit/276030/
[27] Dog-shit Luck and 6 Other Chinese Idioms We Should Start Using in … https://www.thenanfang.com/dog-shit-luck-chinese-idioms-start-using-english/
[28] Study Looks at Why We All Spew So Much BS | Smithsonian https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/study-looks-why-we-all-spew-so-much-bs-180969062/
[29] Ip, Dip, Dog Shit in Early Medieval Ireland – Strong Language https://stronglang.wordpress.com/2014/12/17/ip-dip-dog-shit/
[30] dogshitの意味・使い方・読み方 | Weblio英和辞書 https://ejje.weblio.jp/content/dogshit
[31] Bullshit – Idioms by The Free Dictionary https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/bullshit
[32] dog shit, n. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English Dictionary https://www.oed.com/dictionary/dog-shit_n?tl=true
[33] BULLSHIT definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/bullshit
[34] how rude is word bullshit? : r/EnglishLearning – Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/EnglishLearning/comments/17fxzox/how_rude_is_word_bullshit/
[35] [PDF] Bullshit and Organization Studies – CBS Research Portal https://research-api.cbs.dk/ws/portalfiles/portal/60813537/andreas_rasche_et_al_bullshit_and_organization_studies_acceptedversion.pdf
[36] Playing the Bullshit Game: How Empty and Misleading … https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2631787720929704