tea cup/cup of tea

Question

This is a classic example: if you use "tea" as an adjective ("tea cup"), this means the cup is suitable for tea, but that doesn't mean there is tea in it at any particular moment, whereas "cup of tea" means you're being served tea to drink.
What about a can of something? Does the same rule apply? Example:
"A can of vegetable food" vs. "a vegetable-food can". The latter doesn't sound quite right to my ear, but maybe it's just me.

Philip · Accepted Answer

Your last examples don't sound natural to me. We don't usually think of cans being modified by the product contained inside.   Other possibilities might include:  flour bin / bin of flour;  water jug / jug of water; wine bottle / bottle of wine; water glass / glass of water; clothes closet / closet of clothes; laundry tub / tub of laundry.

Interventizio · Answer

So what do you call a can that used to contain vegetable food, but that's now empty? Would "an empty can of vegetable food" sound natural?

Philip · Answer

Simply an empty aluminum or tin can.

Interventizio · Answer

Ok thank you.

Mister Micawber · Answer

InterventizioSo what do you call a can that used to contain vegetable food, but that's now empty?

In some contexts and with well-known products, 'an empty tomato can' or 'an empty pickle jar' are common enough.

tea cup/cup of tea

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