Could not have.' name='description'> couldn't've - definition and meaning

Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • phrase nonstandard Could not have.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word couldn't've.

Examples

  • At the trailhead, Karen said, Your father couldn't've shot a bear.

    A Bear Story Chris Sheehan 2011

  • They couldn't've cut a pea pod in half with them knives when Al was through.

    He Don't Know Him 2010

  • To paraphrase Paul, first thing I remember I was lying in my bed, couldn't've been no more than 2 or 3.

    Michael Sigman: The Reading of Wonders 2009

  • The water couldn't've been on more than five, maybe ten minutes.

    Mutterings 2009

  • Granted, I couldn't've put a number on it, but I knew kids = many expenses & a lot less disposable income.

    The Price of a Pie kittenpie 2007

  • We couldn't've made it to this edge of disaster without your help.

    Current Comedy, 5/04/09: This is Only a Test 2009

  • The water couldn't've been on more than five, maybe ten minutes.

    Mutterings 2009

  • I think Cukor's right to attribute his own missteps here to "playing it safe," though it's probably also true that he couldn't've done it any other way and still gotten the film made.

    1/24: Stereo; Sylvia Scarlett Ed Howard 2008

  • Comments (3) james: the chicago show on sunday was kinda empty, couldn't've been more than 200 people. and they were still soundchecking when i arrived a half-hour after it was supposed to start. it turned out to be a really good time, though.

    Nite Versions = rad (Music (For Robots)) 2006

  • I couldn't've; I swear I was created solely for tirades.

    delagar delagar 2007

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.