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50 shades of shit - part 1

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💡
In this lesson, you’ll explore the wild and colourful world of slang with phrases featuring the word shit. Let’s dive into the 50 shades of shit and have some fun with language!
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Etymology

Exercise 1

Read the text and answer the questions below:
⌛
The word "shit" originates from the Old English word "scitan" (ˈʃiːtɑn), which means "to defecate." It is derived from the Proto-Germanic root "skit-" and is related to similar words in other Germanic languages, such as Dutch "schijten" (ˈsxɛi̯.tən) and German "scheißen" (ˈʃaɪ̯sən). The word has been used in English since at least the 14th century, initially as a verb and later as a noun.
schijten" (ˈsxɛi̯.tən) - a little help with pronunciation
  • Which word in the text means to poop?
  • List two other Germanic languages that have similar words to "shit" and provide their equivalents.
  • How has the usage of the word "shit" evolved from the 14th century to now?

Noun, verb, adjective…

Exercise 2

The word 'shit' can be used as a noun, adjective, and verb. Read the sentences below and identify how 'shit' is used in each one.
  1. The weather is pretty shit today; it's been raining non-stop.
  1. He shits his pants every time he sees a horror movie.
  1. He stepped in some dog shit while walking in the park.
  1. That was a shit movie; I can’t believe we wasted our time on it.
  1. The cat shat on the carpet again.
  1. She doesn't take shit from anyone and always stands up for herself.
Answer key

Verb forms

What are the past forms of the word ‘shit’? Take a guess!
Now, watch this clip and fill in the gap with the form used in the clip. ”I just laundered those sheets that were on the bed in which I …”
Transcript and an extra exercise

Exercise 3

Fill in the gaps. Use verb forms from the table below.
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  1. Last night, the dog __________ in the hallway. (past tense)
  1. When the dog gets scared, he often tries to __________ somewhere hidden. (base form)
  1. The dog had __________ in the garden by the time I noticed. (past participle)
  1. Just yesterday, the dog __________ right before we went out. (past tense)
  1. If left alone too long, the dog often ends up __________ in the living room. (present participle)
  1. On long car rides, the dog __________ unless he's walked beforehand. (third person, present simple)
  1. The dog has __________ on the rug before, so watch him closely. (past participle)
  1. If the dog can't go outside, he will __________ somewhere inside the house. (base form)
  1. The dog had __________ on his bed, so we needed a new one. (past participle)
  1. If you see the dog __________ in the garden, please lead him away. (present participle)
  1. The dog usually __________ early in the morning. (third person, present simple)
  1. It seems like the dog __________ himself during the thunderstorm last week. (past tense)

Pronunciation

Look at the two pictures and match each one to the correct vowel sound: /ɪ/ as in “shit” or /iː/ as in “sheet.” Which vowel is long, and which one is short?
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Now, listen to the characters in both clips and decide who says 'sheet' and who says 'shit'. Then, explain the difference in how they are pronounced.
 
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/ʃiːt/ (sheet):
  • The vowel sound is long (/iː/), held for a longer duration.
  • Mouth is stretched horizontally, as if you're smiling and showing all your teeth.
💩
/ʃɪt/ (shit):
  • The vowel sound is short (/ɪ/), pronounced quickly.
  • The jaw falls down, and the mouth opens more vertically.

Exercise 4

Read the sentences below.
  1. She slipped on the sheet 📄 and shouted, 'Shit!' 💩 before sitting on the sheet 📄 again.
  1. Sitting on a wet sheet, 📄 she shouted, 'Shit! 💩I need a new sheet!'. 📄
  1. He spilt coffee on the sheet 📄 and cursed, 'Shit, 💩 not my clean sheet!’ 📄
  1. He spilt his drink on the shit-stained 💩 carpet and sighed, 'Shit, 💩 more shit 💩 to clean up'.
  1. He couldn't give a shit 💩 about the shit 💩 they were saying, so he just ignored the whole shitshow. 💩
 
💩
Now that we understand the literal meaning of the word ‘shit,’ let’s explore some of its figurative uses and expressions. ‘Shit’ can also mean ‘bad’ or ‘terrible.’ Take a look at this example, and then we’ll dive into some phrases, idioms, and sayings.

"Shit!" – The Exclamation

Sometimes, people just say "Shit!" on its own. It's a very common exclamation in English. But what does it mean? Well, it depends on how someone says it and what's happening.
Which emotions do you think can be expressed by shouting "Shit!"?
anger 😠, surprise 😲, fear 😨, frustration 😤, pain 😣, panic 😱, stress 😬, excitement 🤩, disappointment 😞
Answer
Which emotions do you think those characters were feeling when they said “Shit!”?

Animal-Themed Shit Expressions

Exercise 5

Read the phrases on the left and try to match them with the definitions on the right. Then, watch the video clips to help you understand the meanings better.
bullshit/horseshit 🐂
very excited or very angry 😡

Clips