TKG English Learner's Dictionary

shit

shitnoun

American /ʃɪt/ British /ʃɪt/
plural shits
fairly commonvulgar

Shit is a very rude word for solid body waste, and from that comes its use for anything worthless, for things in general, and for a very unpleasant person.

  1. body wastethe solid waste that people and animals pass out of their bodies

    uncountable [U]

    Collocations

    noun + noun dog shit, bird shit, cow shit
    verb + noun step in shit, clean up shit

    Synonyms excrement (the formal, neutral word); poop (informal, and the word used with children); crap (also vulgar, but a little less strong)

    1. aan act of passing solid waste out of the body

      countable [C] usually singular [usu sing]

      Collocations

      verb + noun take a shit, have a shit, need a shit

    2. ban illness in which the waste from the body is liquid and comes often

      Always the shits, with the.

      plural only [pl]

      Collocations

      verb + noun have the shits, give someone the shits

  2. nonsensesomething said, written, or made that is not true or that has no value

    uncountable [U] disapproving

    Collocations

    adjective + noun complete shit, total shit, absolute shit
    phrase a load of shit, a pile of shit, a bunch of shit

    Synonyms nonsense (the neutral word); bullshit (also vulgar; used for lies and empty talk); crap

  3. thingsthings of any kind, or the things that belong to someone

    uncountable [U]

    Collocations

    verb + noun get your shit, pack your shit, have shit to do

    Synonyms stuff (the informal but not vulgar word)

  4. hated persona very unpleasant and unkind person

    countable [C] offensivedisapproving

    Collocations

    adjective + noun a real shit, a complete shit, a little shit

Phrases

give a shit

care at all about something or someone

Almost always with a negative, or in a question that expects the answer no.

For translators (phrase)

Grammar trap Used with not or in a question; a positive statement (he gives a shit) is rare and sounds odd.

be in deep shit

be in serious trouble

the shit hits the fan

a situation suddenly becomes very serious, because something that was hidden is found out

be full of shit disapproving

say things that are not true, or talk as if you know more than you do

scare the shit out of someone

frighten someone very much

shoot the shit American

talk in a relaxed way about nothing important

get your shit together

organize your life or your work so that you can deal with things properly

talk shit Americandisapproving

say rude or untrue things about someone, usually when they are not there

shit happens

bad things happen to everyone, and there is nothing to do but accept them

A complete sentence, said to accept a piece of bad luck without complaining.

Word family

Usage

Shit is one of the most common vulgar words in English. It is heard often in casual speech among friends and in films, but it offends many people and is not used in polite or formal situations, at work with people you do not know well, or in careful writing. A learner is safest learning to recognize it rather than to use it. The neutral words are excrement for the waste, nonsense for sense 2, and stuff for sense 3.

For translators

Meaning across languages Other languages usually have an equally vulgar word for the literal sense, but the figurative senses (nonsense, things, a hated person) and the many idioms rarely translate word for word. Each needs the nearest vulgar or informal expression in the target language, matched for strength.
Grammar trap Uncountable in the literal sense and in the senses nonsense and things; countable for a hated person: a shit, two shits. Give a shit is almost always negative: not give a shit.
Cultural background The word is common in films and in casual American speech, which can make it sound milder than it is. It is still cut from much television, avoided in front of children and at work, and rare in print. Its strength varies between English-speaking countries and between generations.
Pronunciation trap Rhymes with hit and sit, not with heat or seat. Saying it like sheet changes the word completely, so keep the vowel quick, the way it is in sit.