dustbin
gb/dˈʌstbɪn/ us/dˈʌstbɪn/
A2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
container for household rubbish
A bin for rubbish at home.
Usage pattern:
put [something] in the dustbin
Common mistake:
In American English, the more common words are trash can or garbage can; dustbin is mainly British.
Synonyms
bin (Very general, especially common in the UK.)
|
rubbish bin (Clear UK equivalent; emphasizes rubbish.)
|
trash can (Common American English equivalent.)
|
garbage can (Common American English equivalent.)
|
waste bin (Often used for smaller indoor bins, including office bins.)
Collocations
kitchen dustbin
|outside dustbin
|empty the dustbin
|take out the dustbin
|put it in the dustbin
|dustbin lid
|dustbin liner
|dustbin smell
|dustbin full
|dustbin collection
Themes
daily_life
|home
|waste
|cleaning
Examples
- There’s no space left in the dustbin, so I’ll empty it before dinner.
- Put the food scraps in the dustbin and wash your hands.
- The dustbin lid won’t close properly because it’s too full.
Learner examples
- I put the paper in the dustbin.
- The dustbin is full.
Noun
B1
entity
2
vacuum cleaner dirt container
The part of a vacuum that holds dust.
Usage pattern:
empty [a vacuum's] dustbin
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the household dustbin; in this sense it is part of a machine.
Synonyms
dust container (More descriptive and general; not tied to one brand.)
|
dust canister (Common for bagless vacuums.)
Collocations
vacuum dustbin
|empty the dustbin
|remove the dustbin
|wash the dustbin
|dustbin capacity
|click the dustbin back in
|dustbin release button
|dustbin compartment
Themes
home
|cleaning
|appliances
Examples
- The vacuum has lost suction because the dustbin is full.
- Press the button to release the dustbin and empty it into a bag.
- Rinse the dustbin with water and let it dry completely before reattaching it.
Learner examples
- I emptied the vacuum’s dustbin.
Grammar
Expressions
consign [something/someone] to the dustbin (of history)
1/kənsˈaɪn səmˈɛθɪŋsˈoʊmˈoʊn tə ðə dˈʌstbɪn əv hˈɪstɚi/
fixed phrase
formal
reject and forget completely
To throw something away and forget it.
Examples
- The judge said the discriminatory policy should be consigned to the dustbin of history.
- After the scandal, the politician was consigned to the dustbin by his own party.
- They wanted to consign the old system to the dustbin and start again.
dustbin bag
1/dˈʌstbɪn bˈæɡ/
fixed phrase
plastic bag for rubbish
A big plastic bag for rubbish.
Examples
- We’ve run out of dustbin bags, so I can’t empty the bin yet.
- Tie up the dustbin bag before you take it outside.
- Use a strong dustbin bag for glass and sharp packaging.
dustbin lorry
1/dˈʌstbɪn lˈɔɹi/
fixed phrase
truck that collects rubbish
A big truck that collects rubbish.
Examples
- A dustbin lorry blocked the road while the crew emptied the bins.
- The dustbin lorry comes every other week for recycling.
- We woke up when the dustbin lorry stopped outside.
dustbin man
1/dˈʌstbɪn mˈæn/
fixed phrase
person who collects rubbish
A worker who collects rubbish from homes.
Examples
- The dustbin man comes early on Tuesday mornings.
- We thanked the dustbin man for helping with the heavy bin.
- The kids waved at the dustbin man as he drove away.
the dustbin of history
1/ðə dˈʌstbɪn əv hˈɪstɚi/
idiom
formal
being forgotten or rejected
To be thrown away and forgotten.
Examples
- Many people believe those outdated laws belong in the dustbin of history.
- The company’s failed product was quickly relegated to the dustbin of history.
- He argued that the old ideology should be left in the dustbin of history.