shit the bed

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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. (chiefly US, slang, vulgar, idiomatic, of a person or thing) To fail, often in a complete and irreparable fashion.

   Synonym: wet the bed

   • 2008, Dave Zeltserman, Small Crimes, →ISBN, page 41:

     “[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, page 6:

     “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, page 266:

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

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see shit,‎ bed.

   Coordinate term: shit one's pants