tin god

American  

[tin god] / ˈtɪn ˈgɒd /

noun

1. a self-important, dictatorial person in a position of authority, such as an employer, military officer, critic, or teacher.

2. a person who believes they are infallible and tries to impose judgments, beliefs, standards of behavior, etc., on subordinates.

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tin god British  

noun

1. a self-important dictatorial person

2. a person erroneously regarded as holy or venerable

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tin god Idioms  

1. A self-important, dictatorial, petty person who imposes ideas, beliefs, and standards on subordinates. For example, The officials in these small towns often act like tin gods. The tin in this expression alludes to the fact that tin is a base metal with relatively little value. [Late 1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of tin god

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tin god

Its plausible air lasts until the final scenes; then the hero goes out of character and the picture goes off on a little sentimental jag to treat him like a tin god.

From Time Magazine Archive

"Oh!" said the newly-made captain, "I'm not one of your old-fashioned sort that thinks an owner a little tin god."

From A Master of Fortune Being Further Adventures of Captain Kettle by Wood, Stanley L.

Being conscripted into this idiotic space fleet that never fights is bad enough without a tin god on jets like Slichow!

From The Talkative Tree by Fyfe, Horace Brown

The duke may remain a duke, but he won’t be such a little tin god on wheels.

From The Rough Road by Locke, William John

They'll flatter him, make a tin god of him!

From His Second Wife by Poole, Ernest