nonsense
UK/'nɒnsәns/US
TOEFLB1
Definitions
n.
Spoken or written words that have no meaning or make no sense
胡说，废话；无意义的话
n.
Foolish or unacceptable behaviour
荒唐的言行；胡闹
Root Breakdown
Root-derivednon-not
+
senseroot
=nonsense
non- (not) + sense (meaning) = 'no meaning.' Literally something with no sense to it — words or actions you can't make sense of. The leap to 'foolish behaviour' is natural: behaviour that makes no sense is behaviour you won't put up with ('I won't have any nonsense').
Common Collocations
- 1.talk nonsense说废话
- 2.complete nonsense彻头彻尾的胡说
- 3.utter nonsense完全是胡话
- 4.make a nonsense of使…变得毫无意义
- 5.stuff and nonsense一派胡言
Example Sentences
- 1.
Stop talking nonsense and tell me what really happened.
- 2.
The teacher won't put up with any nonsense in class.
- 3.
It's nonsense to say that money guarantees happiness.