tin (redirected from tinning)

*busy as a beaver (building a new dam) and *busy as a bee; *busy as a one-armed paperhanger; *busy as Grand Central Station; *busy as a cat on a hot tin roof; *busy as a fish peddler in Lent; *busy as a cranberry merchant (at Thanksgiving); *busy as popcorn on a skillet

very busy. (*Also: as ~.) My boss keeps me as busy as a one-armed paperhanger. I don't have time to talk to you. I'm as busy as a beaver. When the tourist season starts, this store is busy as Grand Central Station. Sorry I can't go to lunch with you. I'm as busy as a beaver building a new dam. Prying into other folks' business kept him busy as popcorn on a skillet.

See also: beaver, busy

tin ear

Fig. a poor ear for music; a poor hearing ability when it comes to music and distinguishing pitches. I think I had better not try to sing along with you. I have a tin ear and would ruin your performance.

See also: ear

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a (little) tin god  (literary)

someone who behaves as if they are more important or powerful than they really are Have you seen him over there, acting like a little tin god?

See also: god

a tin ear  (informal)

if someone has a tin ear, they do not have a natural ability to understand or enjoy music Even to someone with a tin ear like mine, their singing sounded pretty awful.

See also: ear

be like a cat on a hot tin roof

to be nervous and unable to keep still What's the matter with her? She's like a cat on a hot tin roof this morning.

See also: cat, hot, like, roof