cans
[kˈænz] /kən, ˈkan How to pronounce can (audio) also ˈken; dialectal ˈkin/ (ame, mw)
cans — noun
1. metal containers with food or drink sealed inside so the contents stay good unti
metal containers with food or drink sealed inside so the contents stay good until they are needed.
Omar stacked three cans of beans beside the camping stove.
three cans of + food noun
Ada rinsed the empty cans before taking them to recycling.
empty cans / recycle cans
The shop put the soup cans on the lowest shelf.
Hari bought two cans of cola for the train ride home.
- tins
more common in British English for the same kind of food container
- containers
broader and does not suggest sealed food or drink packaging
- jars
usually glass rather than metal
文法句型
cans of + food/drink
empty cans
recycle cans
用法筆記
Often followed by 'of' and a food or drink noun. Distinguish this sense from sense 2, which is about open containers such as trash cans or paint cans.
常見錯誤
2. containers, often round and open at the top, used for holding rubbish, paint, wa
containers, often round and open at the top, used for holding rubbish, paint, water, fuel, or other materials.
Felipe left the paint cans in the shed after the wall dried.
paint cans / storage after use
Valentina dragged the trash cans back to the gate at dawn.
trash cans
The farmers filled watering cans before the market opened.
Christopher stored extra fuel cans away from the kitchen heater.
- bins
especially for rubbish containers, often in British English
- containers
general term without the usual round, open shape
- tubs
usually wider and often made of plastic rather than metal
文法句型
trash cans
paint cans
watering cans
用法筆記
This sense covers containers people use again and again, not sealed food or drink packaging. It is common with words like 'trash', 'paint', and 'watering'.
常見錯誤
3. a rude, joking way to refer to someone's buttocks.
a rude, joking way to refer to someone's buttocks.
Felipe slipped on the step and landed hard on his cans.
land on your cans
The icy bench made Yuki's cans go numb in minutes.
your cans go numb
After the bike ride, Omar said his cans needed a soft chair.
The cold stadium seat froze Ada's cans before halftime ended.
文法句型
land on your cans
freeze your cans
用法筆記
Very informal and slightly rude. People usually use it jokingly when talking about sitting, falling, or feeling cold on that part of the body.
cans — verb
- canspresent simple I / you / we / they
- canses3rd person singular
- cansing-ing form
- cansedpast simple
1. puts food or drink into sealed cans or jars so it can be stored for a long time.
puts food or drink into sealed cans or jars so it can be stored for a long time.
Amira cans peaches every August when the trees are heavy with fruit.
cans + fruit for storage
The farm cans tomatoes on site before the trucks leave town.
cans + food at a production place
Yuki cans chilli sauce in small jars for winter gifts.
The factory cans tuna overnight while the boats unload at dawn.
文法句型
cans + food
cans + food in jars
cans + food for winter
用法筆記
This is the ordinary lexical verb with forms like 'can', 'cans', 'canned', and 'canning'. Distinguish it from the modal verb 'can', which does not take an -s form in modern standard English.
常見錯誤
2. hits a shot successfully so that it goes in, especially in basketball or golf.
hits a shot successfully so that it goes in, especially in basketball or golf.
The guard cans a corner three whenever defenders leave him open.
cans a three in basketball
On the final hole, Ada cans a long putt for birdie.
cans a putt in golf
Felipe cans the free throw and ties the game.
Yuki cans another jumper from the left wing in practice.
- misses
fails to get the shot into the basket or cup
文法句型
cans a three
cans a putt
cans the free throw
用法筆記
Used mainly in sports reporting or casual talk about games. It usually takes the shot itself as the object, such as 'a three', 'a putt', or 'the free throw'.
3. dismisses someone from a job.
dismisses someone from a job.
The company cans two managers after the safety report reaches the board.
cans + employee after a report
One rude email finally cans the host from the morning show.
cans + person from + job
The owner cans Omar for taking cash from the register.
After weeks of missed shifts, the cafe cans its newest cook.
- hires
brings someone into a job instead of ending it
文法句型
cans + employee
cans + someone for + reason
用法筆記
Informal and direct. It is more forceful than the neutral verb 'dismiss' and is common in speech or headlines rather than formal company documents.
常見錯誤
4. puts an end to a plan, project, service, or event.
puts an end to a plan, project, service, or event.
Rain cans the beach lesson before the children unpack their boards.
cans a lesson because of conditions
The budget cut cans our plan for a second music stage.
cans a plan
A burst pipe cans dinner service at the hotel tonight.
The studio cans the sequel after the first film loses money.
- launches
starts the plan or project instead of ending it
文法句型
cans a plan
cans a project
cans a service
用法筆記
Also informal, but the object here is a plan or activity rather than a person. Distinguish it from sense 3, where the object is the employee who loses the job.