What does this sentence mean? For me, it's more like "He is capable of opening a can," but according to some, it's not that simple. What does it exactly mean?
-
11A canner, exceedingly canny/ One morning remarked to his granny/ "A canner can can/Anything that he can/ But a canner can't can a can, can he?"– Tim LymingtonCommented Jun 20, 2011 at 12:45
-
3"Can" could also be the first name for a Turk, (properly pronounced like "John"), which could make this a real question: "Can Can can a can?"– CalebCommented Jun 20, 2011 at 12:49
-
1See also Awkward sounding but grammatically correct sentences?– user1579Commented Jun 20, 2011 at 12:58
-
1Can you can a can in a can to can a can in a can to Can?– JiminPCommented Jun 20, 2011 at 13:10
-
7en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…– Alan KruegerCommented Jun 20, 2011 at 16:03
|
Show 4 more comments
5 Answers
Nice sentence playing with words!
The first "can" means "able to", or "He is able to can a can."
The second "can" is defined:
Slang . to throw (something) away.
The third "can" refers a container for storing food, rubbish, etc.
So, the sentence can be explained:
He is able to throw away a container.
All, substituted with the word "can" for a humorous effect.
answered Jun 20, 2011 at 12:42
-
Nice explanation! So, I can use "can" now to throw things away? Commented Jun 20, 2011 at 12:48
-
1
-
12I think it depends on whether you're using American English or British English. British English speakers rarely use "can" to signify "throw out". If this is a British English sentence, I would suggest the meaning "to put in a can". Commented Jun 20, 2011 at 13:09
-
-
6Surely it can also mean "to put something in a can", which is what is done at factories? So the sentence means "He is able to put a can in a can"– CarlosCommented Jun 20, 2011 at 15:57
can
- is able
- to throw away
- container
-
so it means he is being able to throw away some containeR?– genesisCommented Jun 20, 2011 at 12:40
-
"He can can a can" means:
He can [is able to] can [place into a can or jar for storage or preservation] a can [a usually metal cylindrical container].
-
1I think the second can is not referring to "canning". I think it is what @Unreason defined it, "to throw away". Commented Jun 20, 2011 at 13:03
-
@Trifle: It's one possible explanation. Also it can mean throw something away or fire someone or score a basket in basketball. Probably others as well.– RobustoCommented Jun 20, 2011 at 13:05
Free dictionary gives some slang definitions of can. Among them are
4.can - the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on; "he deserves a good kick in the butt"; "are you going to sit on your fanny and do nothing?"
5.can - a plumbing fixture for defecation and urination
Please derive the "not so simple" meaning of the title phrase yourself. Oh yeah, first "can" is really an "is able" version.
A: Hello, what do you have here?
B: A can.
A: Pretty nice can you have.
B: Yeah...
A: And what is inside the can?
B: A can.
A: There is a can inside the can?
B: Yeah...
A: Sounds quite stupid to me. Who would can a can?
B: A can.
A: You mean... Some can canned a can inside the can?
B: Yeah...
A: I don't get it. How can can can...errr...
B: A can.
A: Yeah... Can can can a can?
B: Yeah...
