sin bin

American  

[sin bin] / ˈsɪn ˌbɪn /

noun

Slang.

1. Ice Hockey. penalty box.

2. British. an isolated room or facility where offenders, as misbehaving students or disruptive prisoners, are placed for a period of detention or rehabilitation: four inmates doing time in the sin bin for physical violence.

   secondary-school cyberbullies sent to the sin bin;

   four inmates doing time in the sin bin for physical violence.

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sin bin British  

noun

1. slang (in ice hockey, rugby, etc) an area off the field of play where a player who has committed a foul can be sent to sit for a specified period

2. informal a special unit on a separate site from a school that disruptive schoolchildren attend until they can be reintegrated into their normal classes

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Etymology

Origin of sin bin

First recorded in 1950–55 sin bin for def. 1; 1980–85 sin bin for def. 2

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sin bin

More and more EU countries are being thrown in the public spending sin bin over their mushrooming deficits, with Bulgaria expected to be added Wednesday.

From Barron's ● Jun. 3, 2026

However, the All Blacks, who had three players sent to the sin bin, struck late through Damian McKenzie to deny Scotland the chance of a first victory in this fixture.

From BBC ● Nov. 8, 2025

Munster responded with a period of pressure that saw their opposition reduced to 14 men but, to their frustration, would not find a try during the sin bin period.

From BBC ● Dec. 27, 2024

The wing has been sent to the sin bin and will be reviewed by the television match officials to see if it will be more.

From BBC ● Apr. 19, 2024

But the passage of play that saw Holly Aitchison sent to the sin bin, followed by Tuttosi's score from the resulting penalty and line-out, proved a turning point.

From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2023