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to can

to can

33 7.7
To fire someone from their job in informal speech
  • verb
  • /kæn/
  • Informal
translation icon : despedir
  • - You were gonna can me, right?

Examples

  • Did he tell you he got canned?

  • If I'm not up on that board by the 30th, they're going to can my ass.

  • The guy you canned the day before Christmas?

  • I mean I canned her, I fired her.

  • Soon afterward, they canned the dean of students and gave his duties to the new vice-principal.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • -Did you get canned?

  • After being canned, Hirose auditioned for roles, but nothing ever came of his efforts.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • After the company restructured, they decided to can several employees, including Tom.

  • She was really upset when she found out that they would can her for being late so often.

  • If you continue to ignore the deadlines, you might end up getting canned from your position.

Synonyms

to fire
vsto can
2.8

To officially make someone leave their job

is more informal and chiefly used in US speech
to let go
vsto can
852 3.8

To stop employing someone so they lose their job

is more informal and blunt rather than polite or indirect
to terminate
vsto can
  • Formal
90 5.5

To make someone stop working for a company

is informal and conversational rather than official or legal
to dismiss
vsto can
70 3.3

To remove someone from their job

is informal and chiefly US, used in everyday speech
to force out
vsto can
46 4.4

To make someone leave a job by pressure or threats

is a normal removal rather than one caused by pressure
to send away
vsto can
43 3.0

Make someone leave a job or group because of a problem

is informal chiefly US usage for ending employment rather than general removal
to sack
vsto can
  • UK
37 3.5

To make someone leave their job

is informal chiefly US usage and less rough in tone
to give the sack
vsto can
  • UK
5.9

To tell someone they must leave their job

is a shorter informal US verb rather than an idiomatic phrase
to give the axe
vsto can
  • UK
7.4

To suddenly end someone's job or a relationship, often without warning

is an informal dismissal without necessarily being sudden or decisive

Antonyms

1.4

To give someone a job and pay them for their work

Idioms

in the can
  • Jargon
8 8.3

Finished and ready to be released, like a film

3 7.4

Create a difficult situation with many unexpected problems

1 8.9

Using whatever is available and acting without a plan

1 7.9

To accept blame or responsibility that others refuse

1 9.9

To attack or punish someone suddenly and violently, often for something they did

It happens very quickly

can a duck swim
  • Informal
9.5

A question people ask to show the answer is clearly yes

7.0

Challenge someone to try to reach or pass you

To do something as well as you can given the situation

To the same degree as anyone else

Try again to do something after failing

To not recognize someone at all because you have never met them

Start with basic skills before trying harder tasks

spam in a can
  • Informal
8.6

A thing that is cheap and has little value

9.9

Not able to deal with things because you feel overwhelmed or exhausted

Compounds

134 4.2

Being positive and willing to try difficult tasks

72 1.0

A container for holding rubbish until it is collected

60 1.0

A bin with a lid that holds household waste until someone takes it away

23 1.0

A small metal container you open to drink beer

18 1.0

A tool that opens metal cans by cutting the lid

can of worms
  • Informal
17 6.5

A situation that causes many new problems when you start it

9 1.0

A small metal container that holds one fizzy drink

7 1.0

A small metal container for keeping food or drink

6 1.0

A metal or plastic container used to store ground coffee

5 2.4

A small container that sprays liquid or gas when you press a button

A positive, confident way of dealing with tasks and problems

3 3.9

A small metal or plastic container that holds liquid under pressure and sprays a fine mist

3 1.0

A container with a handle and spout for pouring water on plants

can of corn
  • Archaic
1 9.0

An easy catch in baseball or a very simple task

can-kicking
  • Literature
1 9.5

Putting off dealing with a difficult issue instead of making a decision now

A 2002 American film by Steven Spielberg starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks

1 1.6

A large metal container with a lid used to store and carry milk

tin can
  • Jargon
1 8.4

A small fast warship with light armor used in battle

trash can
  • Specialized
1 2.9

A place on a computer where deleted files stay before they are removed for good

booze can
  • Informal
9.9

A can holding beer or another alcoholic drink

can buoy
  • Specialized
8.4

A floating marker like a metal drum that shows a channel edge or danger in the water

dunny can
  • Australian
9.9

A portable toilet with a removable waste container

Ash Can
  • Archaic
9.5

A style of early 1900s American painting showing real, often hard city life

A spray you use to clean your body when there is no water

How Harsh

to terminate
  • Formal
90 5.5
to sack
  • UK
37 3.5
to dismiss
70 3.3
to can
  • Informal
33 7.7
to lay off
87 3.3
to let go
852 3.8

Surface Forms

can infinitive
canned past
canned past participle
canning present participle
cans third person singular

Etymology

The informal US verb can meaning 'to fire' probably comes from the idea of putting someone into a 'can' — to get rid of them — so to can someone is to remove them from their job.