1. Home
2. Idioms
3. can

can

---

---

can

1. n. the head. Jerry landed one on Frank’s can. Frank crumpled.

2. n. toilet. Restroom? Hell, I ain’t tired! Where’s the can?

3. n. the buttocks. (see also bucket.) The guy slipped on the ice and fell on his can.

4. n. jail. (Usually with the.) I had to spend the night in the can, but it wasn’t too bad.

5. tv. to dismiss someone from employment. The jerk canned everybody who played a part in the gag.

6. n. a car. That’s a good-looking can he’s driving.

7. ?Go to cans.

8. n. a breast. (Usually objectionable. Usually plural.) Man, look at the cans on that dame!

9. n. a measurement of marijuana. (Drugs.) How much do you want for a can?

can

/could do without

To prefer not to experience or deal with: I could do without their complaints.

See:

• (one) can hardly believe his or her eyes
• (one) can scarcely believe his or her eyes
• (one) can't win for losing
• (someone) could sell an icebox to an Eskimo
• (someone) could sell ice to Eskimos
• (someone) could sell sawdust to a lumber mill
• (you) can't take it with you (when you go)
• a can of worms
• A golden key can open any door
• a kick at the can
• A leopard can't change its spots
• an offer one can't refuse
• Appearances can be deceiving
• as best can
• as best one can
• as far as I can see
• as far as the eye can see
• be in the can
• before can say Jack Robinson
• before you can say
• before you can say "knife"
• before you can say Jack Robinson
• Beggars can't be choosers
• bite off more than can chew
• bite off more than one can chew
• booze can
• call one's own
• can
• can (someone)
• can barely hear (oneself) think
• can but
• can count on the fingers of one hand
• Can do
• can do with
• can hardly hear (oneself) think
• Can I speak to ? Go to Could I speak to
• can it
• Can it!
• can kiss goodbye
• can of corn
• can of worms
• can on ear
• can see (from) a mile off
• can take it to the bank
• can talk the hind leg off a donkey
• can talk the legs off an iron pot
• can too
• can whistle for
• Can you imagine?
• can’t find one’s butt with both hands
• can’t find one’s butt with both hands in broad daylight
• can’t hit the broad side of a barn
• can’t hit the side of a barn
• can’t remember a fucking thing
• can’t remember shit
• can’t win em all
• can’t win them all
• can-do
• cannot help but
• cans
• can-shaker
• can't
• can't argue with that
• can't be arsed
• can't be bothered
• can't be bothered to
• can't be helped. and couldn't be helped
• can't bear to think about (something)
• can't beat that
• can't believe ears
• can't boil an egg
• can't but
• can't call soul own
• can't carry a tune
• can't complain
• can't complain. and nothing to complain about
• can't cut the mustard
• can't do anything with
• can't even
• can't fight city hall
• can't find butt with both hands
• can't for nuts
• can't for the life of me
• can't for toffee
• can't get enough (of something)
• can't get over (something)
• can't get there from here
• can't hack it
• can't hear think
• can't help
• can't help but do
• can't help it
• can't hit the broad side of a barn
• can't hit the side of a barn
• can't hold a candle to
• can't hold drink
• can't keep hands off
• can't live with them, can't live without them
• can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear
• can't make head nor tail of
• can't make head or tail of
• can't make heads or tails of
• can't nail (something) down
• can't punch (one's) way out of a paper bag
• can't punch one's way out of a paper bag
• can't rightly say
• can't say as I do
• can't say boo to a goose
• can't say for sure
• can't say that I do
• can't say that I have
• can't see a hole in a ladder
• can't see beyond the end of nose
• can't see beyond the end of one's nose
• can't see farther than the end of (one's) nose
• can't see hand in front of face
• can't see past the end of (one's) nose
• can't see straight
• can't see the forest for the trees
• can't see the wood for the trees
• can't seem to
• can't stand
• can't stand the pace
• can't take eyes off
• can't take it with you
• can't tell arse from elbow
• can't thank you enough
• can't think straight
• can't to save life
• can't wait
• can't win them all
• carry the can
• cat can look at a king
• catch as catch can
• catch-as-catch-can
• Come back when you can stay longer
• Could I help you?
• Could I leave a message?
• Could I see you again?
• Could I see you in my office?
• Could I speak to?
• Could I take a message?
• Could I take your order?
• Could I tell him who's calling?
• Could I use your powder room?
• Could we continue this later?
• Could you excuse us, please?
• Could you hold?
• Could you keep a secret?
• couldn't carry a note in a bucket
• devil can quote Scripture for his own purpose
• doesn't hold a candle
• faster than you can say Jack Robinson
• feel for
• from can see to can't see
• game that two can play
• game that two can play, that's a
• get a can on
• get the ax
• get the can
• GI can
• give (someone) the can
• happy as a clam
• He can whistle for it!
• hear a pin drop, can
• hear oneself think, can't
• how can you sleep at night
• How may I help you?
• I can accept that
• I can live with that
• I can take it or leave it
• I can tell you
• I can't accept that
• I can't believe!
• I can't get over
• I can't put a name to her
• I can't say fairer than that
• I don't understand
• If anything can go wrong, it will
• if can help it
• If can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen
• If you can’t stand the heat, keep out of the kitchen
• If you can't be good, be careful
• if you can't beat 'em, join 'em
• If you can't beat 'em,!
• If you can't beat them, join them
• if you can't do the time, don't do the crime
• If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen
• in the can
• it can't be helped
• it's all can do
• judge a book by its cover, one can't
• keep no more cats than can catch mice
• kick the can down the road
• like a can of corn
• like it or lump it
• live out
• live out of cans
• look who's talking
• make nothing of
• money can't buy happiness
• more than can shake a stick at
• more than one can bear
• more than one can shake a stick at
• Neither can I
• Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
• Nice work if you can get it!
• no can do
• No can do!
• No man can serve two masters
• not bear the sight of (someone or something)
• not if one can help it
• not say boo to a fly
• one bad apple spoils the (whole) barrel
• one bad apple spoils the (whole) bunch
• one bad apple spoils the (whole) bushel
• only Nixon could go to China
• open (up) a can of whoop ass (on someone)
• open a can of worms
• pigs can fly
• Pigs might fly
• Piss or get off the can!
• put off
• quicker than you can say Jack Robinson
• run before can walk
• see no further than the end of nose
• Shit or get off the can!
• so bad one can taste it
• so quiet you could hear a pin drop
• spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, the
• take it from me
• the least can do
• Those who can, do; those who can't, teach
• those who can't do, teach
• tomato can
• two can play at that game
• two can play that game
• Two can play this game
• We must learn to walk before we can run
• What can I do you for?
• What can I say?
• What can I tell you?
• What can't be cured must be endured
• What else can I do for you?
• What more can I do?
• What you don't know won't hurt you
• when pigs can fly
• Where can I wash up?
• Why buy a cow when you can get milk for free?
• you bet your ass
• You can bet the farm
• you can bet your life bottom dollar
• You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar
• you can dish it out, but you can't take it
• you can dispense with (something)
• you can have too much of a good thing
• You can lead a horse to water
• you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink
• You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink
• you can run, but you can't hide
• you can say that again
• You can say that again!
• you can take a horse to water, but you can't make him drink
• You can talk!
• You can’t dance at two weddings
• You can’t fight city hall
• You can’t get there from here
• You can’t take it with you
• You can’t win ’em all
• You can’t win them all
• you can't bluff a bluffer
• You can't expect me to believe that
• you can't go home again
• You can't judge a book by its cover
• You can't keep a good man down
• you can't live with them, you can't live without them
• You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear
• You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs
• You can't make bricks without straw
• You can't mean that!
• you can't miss it
• you can't polish a turd
• you can't put a wise head on young shoulders
• you can't put an old head on young shoulders
• you can't run with the hare and hunt with the hounds
• you can't take it with you
• You can't teach an old dog new tricks
• you can't tell a book by its cover
• you can't unring a bell
• you can't win
• You can't win 'em all
• you could hear the grass grow(ing)
• you never can tell