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Glite Dictionary
to spread like stink on shit

to spread like stink on shit

9.9
To spread bad news or rumors very quickly and be hard to stop
  • idiom
  • Offensive
translation icon : esparcirse como la pólvora
  • Online rumors can spread like stink on shit if people aren't careful.

Examples

  • The gossip about the manager's mistake spread like stink on shit around the warehouse.

  • Once the news broke, panic spread like stink on shit throughout the community.

  • Rumors about the scandal spread like stink on shit.

  • The news spreads like stink on shit when people gossip.

  • After the controversial announcement, the discontent among employees spread like stink on shit in the office.

  • As soon as the allegations surfaced, the details spread like stink on shit on social media.

  • Once the scandal hit the headlines, it spread like stink on shit through the town before anyone had a chance to respond.

Synonyms

to go viral
vsto spread like stink on shit
  • Texting
61 3.8

To spread very quickly online and reach many people

is usually unwanted and difficult to stop and not limited to the internet
to spread like wildfire
vsto spread like stink on shit
  • Informal
11 3.0

To become known by many people very quickly

is usually unwanted and difficult to stop or contain

Antonyms

to contain
388 3.5

To keep something dangerous from spreading or getting worse

How Fast

to spread like stink on shit
  • Offensive
9.9
to go viral
  • Texting
61 3.8
to spread
750 1.6
to leak out
24 3.7

Surface Forms

spread like stink on shit infinitive
spread like stink on shit past
spread like stink on shit past participle
spreading like stink on shit present participle
spreads like stink on shit third person singular

Morphology

spread + like + stink + on + shit

The components 'spread' + simile marker 'like' combined with 'stink' and 'shit' clearly evoke rapid, unpleasant diffusion, so a learner who knows the words can infer the general sense of something spreading quickly and offensively. However, the vulgar, nonstandard collocation and pragmatic force (degree of offensiveness and register) are not fully predictable from the parts, making the expression only partially transparent to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Spread like stink on shit gives a clear picture: a strong stink from shit moves fast through the air and is hard to stop. So people use it to say news or gossip spreads 'very quickly' and is often 'unwelcome'.