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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Usage
Tins
Tonight I opened up a tin of sardines. In the year 2005, I will probably open quite a few metal containers, but most of them will be cans. Otherpondian readers of this newsgroup may open tins of peaches and tins of soup, but Americans open cans of peaches and soup.
I'm trying to think of anything else that comes in what I would refer to as a tin. There's a container of smoked oysters in the cupboard that is packaged in a very similar container to the sardines, but I don't think of it as a tin of smoked oysters. I have a vague idea that we used to refer to buying a tin of coffee, but I'm not sure we ever did.
Is my use of a "tin of sardines" common in the US? Or, is this something I've picked up somewhere an adopted as my very own?
The sardines were packed tightly in the tin. That was reassuring since sardines seem to be the universal standard for something packed tightly. It was a bit sad that the tin had a peel-back lid instead of a key to roll the lid back. I wasn't aware that the technology of sardine-packing has made the key as obsolete as the buggy whip.
Once or twice a year I get a sudden urge to have sardines on crackers. I prefer them packed in mustard, but these were water-packed. Spring water, according to the label. I find that it is best not to look at sardines when worrying them out of the tin and onto the cracker. They are most unattractive to look at, and they break apart and expose innards and such. But, I like the taste.
I'm trying to think of anything else that comes in what I would refer to as a tin. There's a container of smoked oysters in the cupboard that is packaged in a very similar container to the sardines, but I don't think of it as a tin of smoked oysters. I have a vague idea that we used to refer to buying a tin of coffee, but I'm not sure we ever did.
Is my use of a "tin of sardines" common in the US? Or, is this something I've picked up somewhere an adopted as my very own?
The sardines were packed tightly in the tin. That was reassuring since sardines seem to be the universal standard for something packed tightly. It was a bit sad that the tin had a peel-back lid instead of a key to roll the lid back. I wasn't aware that the technology of sardine-packing has made the key as obsolete as the buggy whip.
Once or twice a year I get a sudden urge to have sardines on crackers. I prefer them packed in mustard, but these were water-packed. Spring water, according to the label. I find that it is best not to look at sardines when worrying them out of the tin and onto the cracker. They are most unattractive to look at, and they break apart and expose innards and such. But, I like the taste.
Top answer
[nq:1]Tonight I opened up a tin of sardines. In the year 2005, I will probably open quite a few metal ... coffee, but I'm not sure we ever did.
- [nq:1]Tonight I opened up a tin of sardines.
- In the year 2005, I will probably open quite a few metal ...
- coffee, but I'm not sure we ever did.
- [/nq] Yes.
- Check the AUE Archives.
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92 Answers
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[nq:1]Tonight I opened up a tin of sardines. In the year 2005, I will probably open quite a few metal ... coffee, but I'm not sure we ever did. Is my use of a "tin of sardines" common in the US?[/nq]
Yes. Check the AUE Archives.
[nq:1]Or, is this something I've picked up somewhere an adopted as my very own?[/nq]
Fear not, Coop. This is not one of your Hiberno-Briticisms.
I thi
Yes. Check the AUE Archives.
[nq:1]Or, is this something I've picked up somewhere an adopted as my very own?[/nq]
Fear not, Coop. This is not one of your Hiberno-Briticisms.
I thi
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[nq:1]Tonight I opened up a tin of sardines. In the year 2005, I will probably open quite a few metal ... are most unattractive to look at, and they break apart and expose innards and such. But, I like the taste.[/nq]
I had them for lunch today. King Norway brand brislings, packed in two layers in olive oil. Same peel back lid which I'm very careful with as they look like finger killers.
I
I had them for lunch today. King Norway brand brislings, packed in two layers in olive oil. Same peel back lid which I'm very careful with as they look like finger killers.
I
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[nq:1]Tonight I opened up a tin of sardines. In the year 2005, I will probably open quite a few metal ... and soup. I'm trying to think of anything else that comes in what I would refer to as a tin.[/nq]
http://www.gloso.com/tins.html
Try that link for some examples. I have some hard candies that come in a tin. The
http://www.gloso.com/tins.html
Try that link for some examples. I have some hard candies that come in a tin. The
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...
} Is my use of a "tin of sardines" common in the US? Or, is this } something I've picked up somewhere an adopted as my very own? ...
It's not startling, but "tin" is as you suggest less used in Mainland English than it is in the others, I suspect. It may have something to do with the height to width ratio, with tins having a smaller one than cans. It may also have to do with the lid (e
} Is my use of a "tin of sardines" common in the US? Or, is this } something I've picked up somewhere an adopted as my very own? ...
It's not startling, but "tin" is as you suggest less used in Mainland English than it is in the others, I suspect. It may have something to do with the height to width ratio, with tins having a smaller one than cans. It may also have to do with the lid (e
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[nq:1]Those little British hard candies they have at the checkout counter at the supermarket sometimes come in tins.[/nq]
Altoids, wot? I reckon Ron consumes those when he gets homesick for the Old Country. Curiously refreshing!
Steny '08!
Altoids, wot? I reckon Ron consumes those when he gets homesick for the Old Country. Curiously refreshing!
Steny '08!
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[nq:2]Those little British hard candies they have at the checkout counter at the supermarket sometimes come in tins.[/nq]
[nq:1]Altoids, wot? I reckon Ron consumes those when he gets homesick for the Old Country. Curiously refreshing![/nq]
Two sardines are swimming around when a submarine cruises past. "Look look" says one, "there goes a can-full of people".
[nq:1]Altoids, wot? I reckon Ron consumes those when he gets homesick for the Old Country. Curiously refreshing![/nq]
Two sardines are swimming around when a submarine cruises past. "Look look" says one, "there goes a can-full of people".
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}
}>
}>> Those little British hard candies they have at the }>> checkout counter at the supermarket sometimes come in tins. }>
}> Altoids, wot? I reckon Ron consumes those when he gets homesick for the }> Old Country. Curiously refreshing!
}>
}
} Two sardines are swimming around when a submarine cruises past. "Look look" } says one, "there g
}>
}>> Those little British hard candies they have at the }>> checkout counter at the supermarket sometimes come in tins. }>
}> Altoids, wot? I reckon Ron consumes those when he gets homesick for the }> Old Country. Curiously refreshing!
}>
}
} Two sardines are swimming around when a submarine cruises past. "Look look" } says one, "there g
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[nq:1]Another AmE 'tin' usage is "tin of cookies". You know, those bigmetallic things that contain an assortment of cookies? Tins. Again, it's[/nq]
Is a cookie tin tall, about the same height as its width? A BrE biscuit tin tends to be flat and wide, either square-ish or round, and suitable for keeping screws and bits of string in.
JGH
Is a cookie tin tall, about the same height as its width? A BrE biscuit tin tends to be flat and wide, either square-ish or round, and suitable for keeping screws and bits of string in.
JGH
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[nq:2]Tonight I opened up a tin of sardines. In the ... comes in what I would refer to as a tin.[/nq]
[nq:1]http://www.gloso.com/tins.html Try that link for some examples. I have some hard candies that come in a tin. They are made ... sweating copper pipes often comes in a tin. Wet cat food usually comes in what could
[nq:1]http://www.gloso.com/tins.html Try that link for some examples. I have some hard candies that come in a tin. They are made ... sweating copper pipes often comes in a tin. Wet cat food usually comes in what could
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[nq:1]I can think of things - including what you mention above - that come in tin containers. That's not what ... to me. I buy a box of Altoids and a cookie tin is a sheet that cookies are baked on.[/nq]
That's a "cookie sheet" to me. Maybe "baking tin."
[nq:1]The question is about things that are referred to as being in a "tin" and not about how they are packed.[/nq]
I read Lightbulb
That's a "cookie sheet" to me. Maybe "baking tin."
[nq:1]The question is about things that are referred to as being in a "tin" and not about how they are packed.[/nq]
I read Lightbulb
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