shit

1 of 2

noun

ˈshit 

interjectionally also

ˈshē-ət 

plural shits

1

a

vulgar : bodily waste discharged through the anus : feces, excrement

b

vulgar : an act of defecation

—usually used in the phrases take a shit and (British) have a shit

2

vulgar

a(1)

: nonsense, foolishness, crap

especially : trivial and usually boastful or inaccurate talk

Don't give me that shit!

Why are you telling me this shit?

He's full of shit [=he is lying]

Just cut the shit [=stop boasting, lying, etc.]

(2)

: teasing or taunting comments

One time I chartered a Lear jet … and for weeks I got a lot of shit about that from the band.

—Don Henley

"These are guys who make a career out of stealing clients," he [Rick Yorn] says. … "That's all Mike did. I give him shit about it all the time. …"

—Kim Masters

(3)

: bad or unfair behavior or treatment

I'm tired of putting up with their shit.

She doesn't take shit from anyone.

Do what I say, and don't give me any shit.

b(1)

: something of little value or poor quality

a bunch of cheap, useless shit

We need to get rid of all that shit [=junk] in the basement.

She treats him like shit.

My car is a real piece of shit.

(2)

: stuff

He left all of his shit lying around the living room.

c(1)

: a bad, unpleasant, or dangerous situation or condition

I told you twice that you were deep in the shit and that whatever you said could put you in deeper.

—David Simon

That muck at low tide is worse than quicksand, and I was knee-deep … before I realized the shit I was in.

—Corwin Ericson

(2)

: something that causes a chaotic, controversial, or dangerous situation

—usually used in phrases like the shit hits the fan, the shit hit the fan, and when the shit hits the fan

He dedicates a song about the end of the world to his son—"a kind of message in a bottle in case the shit hits the fan."

—Carl Swanson

… he packed up his office before the shit hit the fan.

—Libby Bakalar

3

vulgar : any of several intoxicating or narcotic drugs

especially : heroin

4

vulgar : a minimum amount or degree (as of care or consideration) : damn sense 2

I don't give a shit what they think of me.

5

vulgar : a worthless, offensive, or detestable person

He's such a (little) shit! = He's such a piece of shit!

6

vulgar

a

—used as an interjection

Shit! That really hurt!

Oh, shit. Here she comes.

Well, shit. I guess we have to start over.

b

—used as an intensive usually with the

You scared the shit out of me!

They threatened to beat/kick the (living) shit out of him.

7

vulgar

a

: someone or something that is excellent and exemplary

—used with the

I think she's the shit. I want to keep my name largely because it's hers.

—Marjorie Ingall

see also hot shit

b

: something that is valuable or worthwhile

—used in negative constructions

But unfortunately I still believe that they don't know shit.

—Mark Kurlansky

"People would say we learned our lesson after World War II. Turns out we didn't learn shit."

—Taika Waititi

But what kills me more than anything is they usually pick … the ones who don't have shit going for them.

—Terry McMillan

see also get one's shit together, hot shit, in deep shit, like shit, no shit, pull one's shit together, shit fit, shit happens, shit list, shit show, shit storm, shit ton, tough shit

shit

2 of 2

verb

ˈshit 

shit or shat ˈshat  ; shitting

intransitive verb

vulgar : defecate

transitive verb

1

vulgar : to defecate in

2

slang, vulgar : to attempt to deceive : bullshit

Phrases

the shits

vulgar : diarrhea

Examples of shit in a Sentence

Noun

Don't give me that shit!

Why are you telling me this shit?

That movie was total shit.

There's always some shit going on.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English *shit, from Old English scite; akin to Old English -scītan to defecate

Verb

alteration of earlier shite, from Middle English shiten, from Old English -scītan; akin to Old High German scīzan to defecate and probably to Old English scēadan to separate — more at shed entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1508, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense