pin on

Idioms  

1. Attribute to someone, especially a wrongdoing or crime. For example, They pinned the murder on the wrong man. This expression uses pin in the sense of “attach.” [First half of 1900s]

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Example Sentences

She said that people may forget to use a pin on their mail-in ballot, leading to their vote being disqualified.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

When he stuck an iron inside 7 feet on the par-3 12th hole, it was the closest anybody had been to the pin on Sunday and set up another birdie.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

In Armani's refined yet relaxed collection, some men sported a tie pin on their jacket lapel, while male and female models wore matching sparkling brooches.

From Barron's • Jan. 20, 2026

After a local farmer helped the lorry driver become unstuck, the pin on Google Maps was taken down and the number of people travelling through Cyffylliog has returned to normal.

From BBC • Jan. 8, 2025

“She was wearing that pin on her sweater the day she got here,” August said.

From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd