can
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can (someone)
To summarily dismiss or oust someone from employment; to fire someone. Management promptly canned the new accountant after his miscalculation cost the company hundreds of thousands of dollars. They'll can me if they ever find out I came into work drunk yesterday.
See also: 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.
- (as) happy as can be
- (Can I) buy you a drink?
- (Can I) get you something (to drink)?
- (Can I) give you a lift?
- (I) can too
- (I) can't rightly say
- (I) can't say (as) I have
- (I) can't say as I do
- (I) can't say as I do(, can't say as I don't)
- (I) can't say for sure
- (I) can't say that I do
- (I) can't say that I have
- (I) can't say's I do
- (I) can't say's I have
- (I) can't thank you enough
- (one) can do worse
- (one) can hardly believe (one's) eyes
- (one) can scarcely believe (one's) eyes
- (one) can whistle for it
- (one) can't be arsed
- (one) can't beat (something)
- (one) can't beat that
- (one) can't believe (one's) ears
- (one) can't take (someone) anywhere
- (one) can't top that
- (one) can't wait
- (one) can't win
- (one) can't win for losing
- (one) could do worse
- (one) might do worse
- (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 fight city hall
- (you) can't get there from here
- (you) can't please everyone
- (you) can't take it with you (when you go)
- (you) can't win them all
- a can of corn
- a can of worms
- a cat can look at a king
- a game that two can play
- A golden key can open any door
- a kick at the can
- a leopard can't change his spots
- a leopard can't change its spots
- a man cannot serve two masters
- a mill cannot grind with water that is past
- a word (once) spoken cannot be recalled
- an offer (one) can't refuse
- any fool can/could...
- any fool could (do something)
- anything can happen
- anything can/might happen
- Anything else can I do for you?
- Appearances can be deceiving
- as best (one) can
- as best one can
- as best you can
- as far as I (can) recall/remember
- as far as I can see
- as far as I can tell
- as far as the eye can see
- as far as the eye can/could see
- as fast as (one's) legs can carry (one)
- as fast as your legs can carry you
- as much as (one) could do (not) (to do something)
- as much as somebody can/could do to do something
- be all (one) could do (not) to (do something)
- be all somebody can/could do to do something
- before (one) can blink
- before (one) can say Jack Robinson
- before you can say "knife"
- before you can say (something)
- before you can say Jack Robinson
- before you can say knife
- Beggars can't be choosers
- believe one's own eyes, one cannot
- bet on it
- bet one’s bottom dollar
- bet one's bottom dollar, one can
- bet your bottom dollar
- better mousetrap, (if one can) build a
- bite off more than (one) can chew
- bite off more than can chew
- bite off more than one can chew
- bite off more than one can chew, to
- bite off more than you can chew
- blood from a stone/turnip, one can't get
- booze can
- burn the candle at both ends, to (you can't)
- call one's own
- can
- can (do something) on (one's) ear
- can (just) whistle for (something)
- can (someone)
- can barely hear (oneself) think
- can but
- can carry a tune
- can count on the fingers of one hand
- can do
- can do something standing on your head
- can do with
- can drive a truck through something
- can hardly hear (oneself) think
- Can I be excused?
- Can I call you?
- Can I come in?
- Can I get by, please?
- Can I have (one) call you?
- Can I have a lift?
- Can I have a word with you?
- Can I help you?
- Can I join you?
- Can I leave a message?
- Can I see you again?
- Can I see you in my office?
- Can I speak to (one)?
- Can I speak to ? Go to Could I speak to
- Can I take a message?
- Can I take your order?
- Can I tell (one) who's calling?
- Can I use your powder room?
- Can I/we have the bill?
- Can I/we have the check?
- can it
- Can it!
- can kiss (something) goodbye
- can of corn
- can of worms
- can of worms, it's a/like opening a
- can see (from) a mile off
- can take (something) to the bank
- can take it to the bank
- can talk the hind leg(s) off a donkey
- can talk the legs off an iron pot
- can talk under water
- can too
- Can we continue this later?
- can whistle for
- can you beat it/that?
- Can you excuse us, please?
- Can you hold(, please)?
- can you imagine
- Can you imagine?
- Can you keep a secret?
- can/could teach/tell somebody a thing or two
- 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 win em all
- can’t win them all
- can-do
- cannot choose but
- cannot help but
- cans
- can-shaker
- can't
- can't (do something) for nuts
- can't (do something) for toffee
- can't (do something) to save (one's) life
- can't argue with that
- can't be arsed
- can't be bad
- can't be bothered
- can't be doing with (something)
- can't be doing with something
- can't be helped. and couldn't be helped
- can't be in two places at once
- can't bear to think about (something)
- can't beat that
- can't boil an egg
- can't but
- can't call (one's) soul (one's) own
- can't call (one's) time (one's) own
- can't call one's soul one's own
- can't call soul own
- can't carry a tune
- can't carry a tune in a bushel basket
- can't carry a tune in a paper sack
- can't complain
- can't complain. and nothing to complain about
- can't cut the mustard
- can't do anything with
- can't do anything with (someone or something)
- can't do something for toffee
- can't do something to save your life
- can't even
- can't fight city hall
- can't fight City Hall, one/you/they
- can't find (one's) butt with both hands
- can't find (one's) butt with both hands in broad daylight
- can't find butt with both hands
- can't for the life of me
- can't get (something) for love or money
- can't get enough (of something)
- can't get over (something)
- can't get over something
- can't get there from here
- can't go on
- can't hack it
- can't have it both ways
- can't hear (oneself) think
- can't hear yourself think
- can't help
- can't help (doing something)
- can't help but (do something)
- can't help but do
- can't help but notice (that) (something)
- can't help it
- can't help noticing (that) (something)
- can't help something
- can't hit the (broad) side of a barn
- can't hit the broad side of a barn
- can't hit the side of a barn
- can't hold (one's) drink
- can't hold a candle to
- can't hold a candle to (someone or something)
- can't hold a candle to someone/something
- can't hold it (in)
- can't keep (one's) eyes off (of) (someone or something)
- can't keep (one's) hands off (someone)
- 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 a silk purse out of a sow's ear
- can't make anything out (of something)
- can't make head nor tail of (someone or something)
- can't make head or tail of
- can't make head or/nor tail of something
- can't make heads nor tails of (someone or something)
- can't make heads or tails (out) of (someone or something)
- 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 put a name to (someone)
- can't rightly say
- can't say as I do
- can't say boo to a goose
- can't say fairer than that
- can't say for sure
- can't say that I do
- can't say that I have
- can't see (any) further than the end of (one's) nose
- can't see (one's) hand in front of (one's) face
- can't see a hole in a ladder
- can't see beyond the end of (one's) nose
- can't see beyond the end of one's nose
- can't see farther than (one's) nose
- can't see farther than the end of (one's) nose
- can't see further than (the end of) (one's) (own) 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 forest/wood(s) for the trees
- can't see the wood for the trees
- can't seem to
- can't stand
- can't stand (someone or something)
- can't stand the pace
- can't stand the sight of (someone or something)
- can't stomach (someone or something)
- can't stomach (something)
- can't take (one's) eyes off (of) (someone or something)
- can't take it with you
- can't take your eyes off someone/something
- can't thank you enough
- can't think straight
- can't very well (do something)
- can't wait
- can't win them all
- can't/couldn't very well do something
- carry the can
- cat can look at a king
- catch as catch can
- catch more flies with honey than vinegar, one can
- catch-as-catch-can
- Come back when you can stay longer
- could (do something) standing on (one's) head
- could do with (something)
- could do without (something)
- could drive a truck through (something)
- could hear a pin drop
- 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 talk under water
- could teach (someone) a thing or two (about someone or something)
- could tell (someone) a thing or two (about someone or something)
- Could we continue this later?
- Could you excuse us, please?
- Could you hold?
- Could you keep a secret?
- could/can do without something
- couldn't carry a note in a bucket
- couldn't carry a tune in a bucket
- devil can quote Scripture for his own purpose
- doesn't hold a candle
- don't judge a book by its cover
- don't make a threat you cannot carry out
- don't make threats you cannot carry out
- even a blind pig can find an acorn once in a while
- faster than you can say Jack Robinson
- feel for
- for England
- 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
- have (one's) cake and eat it (too)
- have it both ways
- he/she can talk/eat, etc. for England
- hear a pin drop, can
- hear oneself think, can't
- hold a candle to, cannot/not fit to
- How (something) can you be?
- How (something) can you get?
- How can I help you?
- How can I serve you?
- how can you sleep at night
- how can/could you!
- how could you
- How may I help you?
- how selfish, stupid, ungrateful, etc. can you get?
- I (can) promise you
- I can accept that
- I can live with that
- I can tell you
- I can't accept that
- I can't believe it/that/this
- I can't believe!
- I can't even
- I can't get over
- I can't understand (it)
- I don't understand
- I, he, etc. can't wait
- I, you, etc. can't take somebody anywhere
- I, you, etc. can't win
- if (one) can help it
- if anything can go wrong, it will
- 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
- if you can't beat 'em, join '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 lick 'em, join 'em
- if you can't stand the heat
- if you 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 take it, (then) don't dish it out
- in the can
- Is there some place I can wash up?
- it can't be helped
- it's all (one) can do (to do something)
- 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
- man cannot live by bread alone
- money can't buy happiness
- more (something) than you can shake a stick at
- more than (one) can bear
- more than (one) can endure
- more than (one) can stand
- more than (one) can take
- more than flesh and blood can bear
- more than flesh and blood can endure
- more than flesh and blood can stand
- more than flesh and blood can stand, endure, etc.
- more than one can bear
- more than one can shake a stick at
- more than you can (ever) know
- more than you can shake a stick at
- more things than you can shake a stick at
- more... than you can shake a stick at
- need (something) so bad (that) (one) can taste it
- neither can (one)
- Neither can I
- never make a threat you cannot carry out
- never make threats you cannot carry out
- 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 agree with (someone or something)
- not bear the sight of (someone or something)
- not get a word in edgeways
- not hold (one's) liquor
- not if I can help it
- not if one can help it
- not miss (something) for the world
- not miss a trick
- not miss much
- not put (one's) finger on (something)
- not put (something) past (one)
- not put a foot wrong
- not say boo to a fly
- not show (one's) face
- not stand in (someone's or something's) way
- not stand the sight of (someone or something)
- not trust (someone) as far as (one) can throw (them)
- not trust (someone) farther than (one) can throw (them)
- not trust someone as far as one can throw him/her
- not trust someone as far as you can throw them
- nothing to complain about
- 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 worms
- open up a can of worms
- pigs can fly
- piss or get off the can
- put (one's) finger on (something)
- put off
- quicker than you can say Jack Robinson
- run before you can walk
- see no further than the end of nose
- so bad (that) (one) can taste it
- so bad one can taste it
- so quiet you could hear a pin drop
- so still you could hear a pin drop
- spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, the
- stand to lose (something)
- stand up against (someone or something)
- take it from me
- take it from me, (you can)
- take it or leave it
- talk the talk and walk the walk
- teach an old dog new tricks, one can't/it's hard to
- tell (one) what (one) can do with (something)
- tell (someone) a thing or two (about someone or something)
- that's a game that two can play
- the devil can cite Scripture for his own purpose
- the devil can quote Scripture for his own purpose
- the least (one) can do
- the least (one) could do
- the least you can/could do
- this is why we can't have nice things
- Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach.
- Those who can, do; those who can't, teach
- those who can't do, teach
- tomato can
- two can play (at) this game
- two can play at that game
- two can play that game
- Two can play this game
- walk before you can run
- want (something) so bad (that) (one) can taste it
- we have to (learn to) walk before we (can) run
- we must (learn to) walk before we (can) run
- We must learn to walk before we can run
- we, you, he, etc. can/could/might do worse
- what (someone) doesn't know can't hurt them
- What can I do for you?
- What can I do you for?
- what can I say
- What can I say?
- what can I tell you
- What can I tell you?
- What can you expect?
- What can't be cured must be endured
- What else can (one) do?
- What else can I do for you?
- What more can (one) do?
- What more can be done?
- What more can I do?
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