can

[ kan ]

/ kæn /

noun

a sealed container for food, beverages, etc., as of aluminum, sheet iron coated with tin, or other metal: a can of soup.

a receptacle for garbage, ashes, etc.: a trash can.

a bucket, pail, or other container for holding or carrying liquids: water can.

a drinking cup; tankard.

a metal or plastic container for holding film on cores or reels.

Slang: Usually Vulgar. toilet; bathroom.

Slang. jail: He's been in the can for a week.

Slang: Sometimes Vulgar. buttocks.

cans, Slang. a set of headphones designed to cover the ears. Compare earbuds.

Military Slang.

a depth charge.
a destroyer.

verb (used with object), canned, can·ning.

to preserve by sealing in a can, jar, etc.

Slang. to dismiss; fire.

Slang. to throw (something) away.

Slang. to put a stop to: Can that noise!

to record, as on film or tape.

Idioms for can

carry the can, British and Canadian Slang. to take the responsibility.

in the can, recorded on film; completed: The movie is in the can and ready for release.

Origin of can

before 1000; Middle English, Old English canne, cognate with German Kanne, Old Norse kanna, all perhaps < West Germanic; compare Late Latin canna small vessel

Words nearby can

camrose, camshaft, camus, camwood, caméra stylo, can, can buoy, can do with, can of worms, can opener, can tho

British Dictionary definitions for carry the can (1 of 2)

can ¹

/ (kæn, unstressed kən) /

verb past could (takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive) (intr)

used as an auxiliary to indicate ability, skill, or fitness to perform a task I can run a mile in under four minutes

used as an auxiliary to indicate permission or the right to something can I have a drink?

used as an auxiliary to indicate knowledge of how to do something he can speak three languages fluently

used as an auxiliary to indicate the possibility, opportunity, or likelihood my trainer says I can win the race if I really work hard

Word Origin for can

Old English cunnan; related to Old Norse kunna, Old High German kunnan, Latin cognōscere to know, Sanskrit jānāti he knows; see ken, uncouth

undefined can

See may 1

British Dictionary definitions for carry the can (2 of 2)

can ²

/ (kæn) /

noun

a container, esp for liquids, usually of thin sheet metal a petrol can; beer can

another name (esp US) for tin (def. 2)

Also called: canful the contents of a can or the amount a can will hold

a slang word for prison

US and Canadian a slang word for toilet or buttocks See toilet

US navy a slang word for destroyer

navy slang a depth charge

a shallow cylindrical metal container of varying size used for storing and handling film

can of worms informal a complicated problem

carry the can See carry (def. 37)

in the can

(of a film, piece of music, etc) having been recorded, processed, edited, etc
informal arranged or agreedthe contract is almost in the can

verb cans, canning or canned

to put (food, etc) into a can or cans; preserve in a can

(tr) US slang to dismiss from a job

(tr) US informal to stop (doing something annoying or making an annoying noise) (esp in the phrase can it!)

(tr) informal to reject or discard

Word Origin for can

Old English canne; related to Old Norse, Old High German kanna, Irish gann, Swedish kana sled

Idioms and Phrases with carry the can (1 of 2)

carry the can

Take responsibility or accept blame, as in Joan felt she was always carrying the can for her boss's errors. [Slang; second half of 1900s]

Idioms and Phrases with carry the can (2 of 2)

can

In addition to the idioms beginning with can

can do with
canned laughter
can of worms

also see:

as best one can
before you can say Jack Robinson
bite off more than one can chew
carry the can
catch as catch can
game that two can play
get the ax (can)
in the can
more than one can shake a stick at
no can do
you can bet your ass
you can lead a horse to water
you can say that again
you never can tell

Also see undercan't.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

can

noun

verb (used with object), canned, can·ning.

Idioms for can

Origin of can

Words nearby can

British Dictionary definitions for carry the can (1 of 2)

verb past could (takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive) (intr)

Word Origin for can

undefined can

British Dictionary definitions for carry the can (2 of 2)

noun

verb cans, canning or canned

Word Origin for can

Idioms and Phrases with carry the can (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with carry the can (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

can

noun

verb (used with object), canned, can·ning.

Idioms for can

Origin of can

Words nearby can

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for carry the can (1 of 2)

verb past could (takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive) (intr)

Word Origin for can

undefined can

British Dictionary definitions for carry the can (2 of 2)

noun

verb cans, canning or canned

Word Origin for can

Idioms and Phrases with carry the can (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with carry the can (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for carry the can (1 of 2)