abbreviation
nbs
en-bee-ES
Nbs (abbreviation) means No bullshit: used in texting and online chat to insist that what follows is sincere, or to ask someone to be straight with you. Example: “nbs, that was the best gig I have ever been to.”
abbreviation
1
vulgar slang No bullshit: used in texting and online chat to insist that what follows is sincere, or to ask someone to be straight with you.
"nbs, that was the best gig I have ever been to."
"Do you actually like him? nbs."
2
technical National Building Specification: the standard system of specification documents used by architects and engineers in the United Kingdom construction industry.
"The clauses were written to NBS format."
"Check the NBS specification before ordering the cladding."
How to use nbs
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishText shorthand for 'no bullshit' — meaning 'I am being serious'.
When to use it
Sense 1 is informal and contains an expletive; keep it out of work messages. The letters also stand for a number of organisations, so context decides.
Memory tip
Do not confuse nbs with nbd, which means 'no big deal' and is far milder.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
nbs though
nbs I mean it
NBS specification
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_____, that was the best gig I have ever been to.
Etymology
An initialism, most commonly of 'no bullshit'.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between nbs and no cap?
Both assert that the speaker is telling the truth. 'No cap' is the newer and much commoner phrase, borrowed from African American English, while 'nbs' is older internet and texting shorthand and reads as blunter because of the expletive.
Does NBS always mean 'no bullshit'?
No. In casual messaging that is the usual reading, but in British construction NBS is the National Building Specification, and the initials are also used by various broadcasters, banks and standards bodies. Judge by who is writing.
What is the meaning of nbs?
"nbs" (abbreviation) means no bullshit: used in texting and online chat to insist that what follows is sincere, or to ask someone to be straight with you.
What is another word for nbs?
Other words for "nbs" include no cap, for real, fr.
