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the Shitlands

the Shitlands

9.9
A rude name for parts of a city that are poor and run-down
  • noun
  • Offensive
translation icon : zonas de mierda
  • The city council promised to invest more in the Shitlands to improve living conditions.

Examples

  • Some locals avoid the Shitlands because of their poor reputation and lack of facilities.

  • I wouldn't live in the Shitlands if you paid me!

  • After moving to the Shitlands, she found it difficult to access reliable public transport.

  • Many people avoid the Shitlands due to its bad reputation.

  • Residents in the city often complain about the conditions in the Shitlands, where crime rates are higher and services are lacking.

  • Many families choose to relocate to avoid living in the Shitlands, as the area is known for its neglected infrastructure.

  • The local government is planning new initiatives to revitalize the Shitlands and attract new businesses to the area.

Synonyms

boondocks
vsthe Shitlands
  • Informal
1 9.1

A remote area far from towns with few modern services

refers to neglected outlying urban areas rather than rural countryside
bumfuck nowhere
vsthe Shitlands
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A very far away empty place with nothing there

focuses on neglected and run-down outskirts rather than sheer remoteness
real shitland
vsthe Shitlands
  • Offensive
9.9

A very unpleasant and unsafe place with crime and poor services

is specific to neglected outlying areas rather than any unpleasant place
backlands
vsthe Shitlands
  • UK
7.7

Areas far from towns or cities where few people live and life is often hard

is a slang derogatory name emphasizing neglect and run-down quality

How Run-Down

the Shitlands
  • Offensive
9.9
wasteland
58 4.9
slum
77 3.0
run-down
15 4.5
neglected
3.7

Surface Forms

the Shitlands singular
the Shitlands plural

Morphology

the + Shitlands

The term is a straightforward compound of the profanity 'shit' (very bad/excrement) and 'lands' (areas), so its derogatory meaning 'shitty, undesirable or run-down areas' is directly inferable from the constituents. Though slangy and vulgar in register, a B1 learner who knows the words 'shit' and 'land(s)' would readily deduce the intended sense.

Etymology

The Shitlands likely comes from the crude word shit, meaning something very bad or dirty, joined with lands to give a picture of places full of mess and neglect. That's why people use it to mean 'undesirable' or 'run-down' areas of a city.