shit-can

See also: shitcan, and shit can

English

Alternative forms

• shit can, shitcan

Etymology

Derived from shitcan, meaning trash can.

Verb

shit-can (third-person singular simple present shit-cans, present participle shit-canning, simple past and past participle shit-canned)

1. (slang, vulgar) To dispose of in a shitcan (trash can); to throw out.
   • 2003, Joel Turnipseed, Baghdad Express: A Gulf War Memoir, page 176:

     I figured that was your communiss trash. I shit-canned it.

   • 2005, Shit:

     Exhibitors and promotion companies endlessly give out free shit, which often just gets shit-canned when the attendees get to the airport because TSA won't let you take that shit onto a plane.

   • 2011, Christopher Brookmyre, A Snowball In Hell:

     He figures the popcorn boxes and candy wrappers aren't the only things getting shit-canned right now.

2. (slang, vulgar) To dismiss or expel from work or elsewhere.
   • 1979, Evelyn Shapiro, Barry Shapiro, The Women Say, the Men Say:

     And I am me and you're not going to shit-can me without me fighting back.

   • 2005, Jeff Scheidel, Wake Me When I'm Over, page 78:

     She didn't get shit-canned, she split.

   • 2012, Richard Marcinko, John Weisman, Detachment Bravo:

     Ambassador had him shit-canned. Sent him home early.

3. (slang, vulgar) To get rid of or cancel.
   • 1994, Tom Clancy, Three Complete Novels, page 681:

     I'm probably going to shit-can the program, 'cause I don't think it's worth the money.

   • 2009, Davinia Bostick, The Match, page 108:

     Looks like it's time to shit-can your poisoning the fountain idea.

   • 2011, Nancy Bush, Hush, page 135:

     He supposed now that would all come out, which made him want to shit-can his relationship with Juliet altogether, not that it was much more than sex anyway.

4. (slang, vulgar) To severely injure or destroy; to trash.
   • 2001, Martin Harry Greenberg, First to Fight II, page 8:

     Spencer, if you're going to shit-can your career in special ops, that's fine with me. But you'd damned well better be honest about the reasons you're doing it.

   • 2008, Sean O. Richardson, Mark B. Andersen, Tony Morris, Overtraining Athletes: Personal Journeys in Sport, page 112:

     You know, the press, like it or not, you read the press, and, if you're getting shit-canned in the press, and you know you're injured, you think, "Oh, shit. The press are giving me a hard time. I've got to train harder to get back in to play, so then they can stop getting on my back."

   • 2011, Jim Harrison, The Great Leader:

     Your Blazer is shit-canned, buddy.

   • 2012, Jobie Hughes, At Dawn, page 171:

     I was absolutely shit-canned. My arm was draped over Carolyn's shoulders and she was supporting most of my weight.

Synonyms

• (dismiss from continuing work): can, fire, terminate; see also Thesaurus:lay off

Noun

shit-can (plural shit-cans)

1. Alternative form of shitcan
   • 1995, San Francisco Review of Books - Volumes 20-21, page 38:

     Says Ellroy, "Noir is a shit-can I'm getting off of.

   • 1999, Indian Review of Books - Volume 9, page 39:

     His eyes were turning toward the shit-cans below each latrine.

   • 2019, Jack Walker, In a Mirror Dimly: Stumbling Into Manhood:

     I was put in charge of a detail to go to the beach on the base and fill five large “shit-cans” with sand for the deck.

Anagrams

• cantish, hitscan