crap out
Britishverb
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slang to make a losing throw in craps
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slang to fail; withdraw
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slang to rest
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slang to fail to do or attempt something through fear
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Back down, quit, When it got to the point of putting up some money, Jack crapped out . This expression originated in the game of craps, where it means to make a first throw (of the dice) of two, three, or twelve, thereby losing. [ Slang ; 1920s]
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Go to sleep. This usage was military slang for sleeping during work hours or during a crap game. [ Slang ; c. 1940]
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Die, as in He's really sick; he could crap out any time . This usage is less common than def. 1 or def. 2. [ Slang ; 1920s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“If we’re going to just crank crap out, let’s shut the doors,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2026
“It’s scaring the crap out of me,” said Bryan Wong, chief executive of San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2025
Biden is rolling the dice and hoping he won’t crap out.
From Salon • Jan. 6, 2024
“The truth is we just need less crap out there — less plastic out there in general,” Allen said Friday.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 17, 2022
“The Rudes. They have all those cows. Cows will kick the crap out of you if you don’t get up to milk ’em early enough.
From "Bone Gap" by Laura Ruby
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
