tin can
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of tin can
An Americanism dating back to 1760–70
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Mets began the season with an even bigger payroll than L.A.’s and has done nothing but make New York City want to kick a tin can down the street.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
King Charles, who became patron of the RHS in 2024, and the Queen presented awards including to a display called The Queen Bee made from upcycled containers – with tin can bees.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
He was a mostly self-taught golfer who had fashioned a swing using a branch from a guava tree for a club and a crushed tin can for a ball.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2024
On a crisp Saturday morning that screamed for adventure, a former tin can factory in North Kansas City, Mo. thrummed with the sound of young people climbing, sliding, spinning, jumping, exploring and reading.
From New York Times ● Apr. 1, 2024
The window was open, my bed was made up with blankets and my things hung on the wall, the gas mask in an oblong tin can, the steel helmet on the same peg.
From "A Farewell To Arms" by Ernest Hemingway
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