shit the bed

English

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)

(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.”
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see shit,‎ bed.
Coordinate term: shit one's pants

to fail, often in a complete and irreparable fashion