can opener

noun

1. a manual device or small electric appliance for opening cans.

can-opener

noun

1. another name for tin-opener

Word History and Origins

Origin of can-opener¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

“I was happy to get the ‘can-opener’ today.

From Washington Times

After their not very meet-cute can-opener moment, the next significant interaction between Dave and Fern comes at a bar when he asks her to dance, tripping over his words a little.

From Slate

On the subject of her writing, he is, she thinks, “about as protective as a can-opener,” telling her bluntly, “You haven’t yet . . . written the book you could write if you tried.”

From The New Yorker

It does not, sadly, demolish the can-opener theory.

From Slate

Thankfully, our own can of baked beans has one of those new-fangled rings pulls on the top, and doesn’t require the dreaded can-opener to be clumsily clamped over the metal lip.

From Time