can't even

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English

Etymology

An aposiopesis of "(I) can't even believe it", "can't even process it" or some comparable expression.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈkænt ˌiːvən/, /ˈkɑːnt ˌiːvən/
  • Audio (General Australian):(file)

Verb

can't even (third-person singular simple present can't even, no present participle, simple past couldn't even, no past participle)

  1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see can't,‎ even.
    He’s nine years old, and can’t even tie his own shoelaces!
  2. (slang) Without a following verb, as an expression of aporia: to be unable to express one's feelings about an overwhelming situation.
    Oh my God, I got cheap tickets to the Beyoncé concert! I can’t even!
    • 2019 October 23, Hayley Quinn, Paisley Gilmour, “An essential guide to 'zombieing' - the dating trend that's worse than ghosting”, in Cosmopolitan:
      I – being a MASSIVE IDIOT – had a go at him… then agreed to meet up again, but before that happened he… ghosted me again. I tracked him down on Facebook and and he said his new phone had got water damage (I can’t even).

See also

Further reading