tin-pot

Or tin·pot

[tin-pot]

adjective

1. inferior; paltry; shoddy.

   The tin-pot farce lasted only three performances before closing.

2. of minor importance or significance.

   a tin-pot dictator, trying to look like a statesman.

Word History and Origins

Origin of tin-pot¹

First recorded in 1835–45; tin ( def. ) (from the believed inferior quality of a tin pot) + pot ¹ ( def. )