# make shit of

idiom · Vulgar

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/make-shit-of
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To ruin or destroy.

## Examples

- Don't make shit of this project before the boss sees it.
- He tried to fix the engine himself, but he ended up making shit of the whole machine.
- The inexperienced manager made shit of the company's reputation by ignoring the safety warnings from his staff.

## Origin

The phrase is a calque of the Irish *caca dhéanamh de rud*, a literal translation of the Irish construction into English.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.