ring pull

IPA/ˈrɪŋ pʊl/
IPA/ˈrɪŋ pʊl/

ring pull — noun

1. the small metal ring or tab on the top of a sealed can that you pull upwards to

1.nounB1
Definition

the small metal ring or tab on the top of a sealed can that you pull upwards to break the seal and open the container

Example

Kasia pulled the ring pull on a soda can and it opened with a soft hiss.

pull + ring pull (verb + object collocation)

The ring pull broke off in Feng's hand before he could open the lemonade.

Common collocations
  • pull a ring pull
  • lift the ring pull
  • ring pull breaks
  • ring pull snaps
  • bend the ring pull
  • ring pull design
  • ring pull mechanism
Synonyms
  • pull tab

    more common in American English; can refer to any tab-type opener, not only ring-shaped

  • stay-on tab

    modern design that remains attached to the can after opening

  • pop tab

    informal American term for the same device

Usage Note

Countable noun. Refers to both the physical metal tab and the opening mechanism on cans. More common in British English than American English, where 'pull tab' or simply 'tab' is preferred.

Common Mistakes

I opened the bottle with a ring pull.
I opened the can with a ring pull.
ring pulls are used on cans, not bottles.
The ring pull on this can is made of plastic.
The ring pull on this can is made of metal.
ring pulls are traditionally made of aluminium or steel, not plastic.

Word family

  • ring-pull
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

In British English, 'ring pull' is the standard term for the metal ring on a can that you pull to open it. 'Pull tab' is the preferred American equivalent and is more generic — it can describe any tab-style opener, not just a ring shape. 'Pop tab' is an informal American variant, while 'stay-on tab' refers specifically to the modern design invented in the 1970s that remains attached to the can after opening, unlike older detachable ring pulls. For everyday use in the UK, 'ring pull' is the most natural choice; in the US, 'pull tab' or simply 'tab' is far more common.

ring pull ↗pull tabpop tabstay-on tab

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • pull the ring pull
  • lift the ring pull
  • ring pull breaks
  • ring pull snaps
  • ring pull design

Etymology

EnglishEnglish

A compound noun formed from 'ring' (a circular band) and 'pull' (the action of drawing something towards you). The term emerged in the 1960s when aluminium beverage cans with pull-ring opening mechanisms were first mass-produced. The original 'pull-tab' design, patented in the US in 1962, featured a removable ring that the consumer pulled to tear the lid. The British English term 'ring pull' became the standard name for this device, contrasting with the American 'pull tab'.