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Idiom

Etymology:

Of Native American origin it describes the inability of a person to successfully walk through tall grass. Before colonization the great plains of North American were covered with large sections of tall grasses. Instead of going around acres of tall grass, people could walk straight through them.

The implication is that a capable adult is both tall enough to see above shoulder height tall grass and wise enough to navigate and form a path through tall grass that is above their head. Children and people that are not intelligent will get lost in the tall grass and need help to get out or even die.

Usually applied to a person, but could apply to a thing.

Similar to: If you can't handle the heat get out of the kitchen, shape up or ship out

1: transitive, present tense

a: Describing a person that cannot handle the situation they are in.

b: Describing a person that is not intelligent enough to figure out something that others easily can.

2: rhetorical question

Implying that the person being asked is not keeping up with the group or not able to handle the task they were given.
1a: "Jim can't walk in the tall grass. He got promoted to sergeant and just took a month long stress leave"

1b: "I've been training the new hire for a week now and she still can't figure out how to clock in.....she can't walk in the tall grass."

2: "Hey Ron, Jim was late and installed the wiring for 2 rooms today but you were here all day and barely got half of one done. Can't walk in the tall grass?"
by Babakanoosh March 30, 2022
mugGet the Can't walk in the tall grassmug.

can't raise a man

1. Grown-ass boy so a man that acts like a little boy.

2. When his mama ain't raise him right so u want him to "grow up"
3. A man who needs to grow up
"You 'can't raise a man', he's already grown, what are you gonna do?"
by thatonegirl_ml October 26, 2020
mugGet the can't raise a manmug.

Hard can't

Something you actually can't do, as opposed to something you shouldn't do.
Me: We can't go there, there's a fence.
She: There's no barbed wire, it's not a hard can't.
by suede-o-nym April 20, 2015
mugGet the Hard can'tmug.

You can't imagine

Why Israel would block aid? TO STARVE THEM. Because they're psychopath worshipping schizos "Where not killing them! God is! See? I did it indirectly so it's God!"
Hym "You can't imagine why they would do it? Because they want to make an example out of them to deter future attacks. How abouts, start raping Jewish women around the world and don't stop until they start letting food in. Start with Ben's wife's."
by Hym Iam March 27, 2024
mugGet the You can't imaginemug.

can't be blank

can't be blank
can't be blank
by CorgulantCaster44 December 22, 2020
mugGet the can't be blankmug.

can't wanna

can't wanting to do something
by I can't wanna make a name September 29, 2017
mugGet the can't wannamug.

We can't be friends

And I won't ever have a relationship. But what these people are trying to turn that into is an overt form of of second class citizenry.
Hym "No we can't be friends. In the words of Arianna Grande "We can't be friends." Because the only reason were are lovers is the lack of a fat cock."
by Hym Iam October 19, 2025
mugGet the We can't be friendsmug.

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