Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[WhiteScarf]

Dear teacher:

I watched the desperate housewives.
Nina is mean and rude to Lynette, and Lynette said �could you can the attitude?

what �can the attitude� means?

Thank you

[CP]

When you can something, you put it in a can or a container. Figuratively, if I don't like what you are saying or doing, I might say, "Can it."

An attitude is a person's view or opinion of things, but people use bad attitude to mean an unwilling, resentful mood, etc. If I don't like your lack of cooperation and bad mood, I might say, "Lose the attitude" or "Can the attitude."

That sort of talk usually just gives the other person a bad attitude, by the way.
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