like the back end of a bus

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

Very unattractive.

Register: colloquial, derogatory

Examples

Not really fighting over her (puns aside). When you get a current beau and an ex, full of booze and testosterone, meeting up, their common interest isn't much of an issue in the subsequent display of machismo. I think she looks like the back end of a bus but, to them, she was a 'possession'.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “like the back end of a bus” mean?

Very unattractive.

Is “like the back end of a bus” formal or informal?

like the back end of a bus is generally colloquial, derogatory.