tin can

American  

noun

1. can.

2. U.S. Navy Slang. a destroyer.

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tin can British  

noun

1. a metal food container, esp when empty

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Etymology

Origin of tin can

An Americanism dating back to 1760–70

Example Sentences

All of which makes the decision to play in the round, packed like sardines in a crushed tin can, all the more significant.

From BBC

The Erebus and the Terror were the first ships to take advantage of a dramatic new invention—the tin can.

From Literature

From the outside, the Team Associated trailer looked like a glorified tin can, but inside it was furnished with crisp white shelving and a treasure trove of motor parts.

From Los Angeles Times

“They have been found in tin cans, in coconut halves,” Rundell writes.

From Salon

I have fond memories of walking with my dad on Saturday mornings to a nearby cannery, where we could buy big tin cans of freshly squeezed OJ still warm from being pasteurized.

From Los Angeles Times