shit the bed

shit the bed

English

Verb

shit the bed (third-person singular simple present shits the bed, present participle shitting the bed, simple past and past participle shit the bed or shat the bed)

1. Used other than with a figurative or idiomatic meaning: see shit,‎ bed.
2. (chiefly US, idiomatic, of a person or thing) To fail, often in a complete and irreparable fashion.
   • 2008, Dave Zeltserman, Small Crimes, →ISBN, p. 41 (Google preview):

     “[H]ow was I supposed to know Dan Marino would shit the bed and lose that game by nineteen points?”

   • 2012, Tom Ryan, Way to Go, →ISBN, p. 6 (Google preview):

     “Yep, I totally shit the bed on that exam. Guess I'll be sticking around this place for another year.”

   • 2013, Stephen King, Under the Dome, →ISBN, p. 266 (Google preview):

     “We're almost ready. If the damn copier doesn't shit the bed, that is.”