can't

[can't]

See the expressions listed at not able, as well as those listed below.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • about to do
  • fend for oneself Go to shift for
  • help get a foothold
  • find oneself in the market
  • have eye out
  • a little off Go to a bit
  • fettie
  • and/or
  • bluh
  • bousta
References in classic literature
You can't imagine what loathsome thoughts I have about everything."
Anna Karenina
"There are some things that money can't accomplish," remarked young Rockwall, rather gloomily.
The Four Million
'n 'me talk, I mean; so he can't tell me how he loves me, an' he's all love, every last hair of 'm.
Michael Brother of Jerry
"I can't explain it to you--but it's just as I've said," responded the Story Girl.
The Golden Road
No; the way all the best authori- ties does is to saw the bed-leg in two, and leave it just so, and swallow the sawdust, so it can't be found, and put some dirt and grease around the sawed place so the very keenest seneskal can't see no sign of it's being sawed, and thinks the bed-leg is perfectly sound.
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
But there, if a woman's husband can't rule her of course a servant can't; so I wash my hands of it, and if she can't get to the duchess' garden party I can't help it."
Black Beauty
But Huck, we can't let you into the gang if you ain't re- spectable, you know."
Tom Sawyer
"I can't bear to think of you living in that horrible, filthy attic.
Moon and Sixpence
They won't have me back, my place has been filled up, I can't get any fighting.
The Kingdom of the Blind
You can't dance without them, and if you don't I should be so mortified." "Then I'll stay still.
Little Women
"I can't dream now, Captain Jim--I'm done with dreams."
Annes House of Dreams
That natural law surmounts every other; we can't help what it clashes with."
The Mill on the Floss
We can't alter her bringing up and what's come of it."
Silas Marner
You can't prevent me from going to Paris if I make up my mind to.
Of Human Bondage
"But can't you give me some hope that you will -- yet?"
Anne of The Island