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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

tie a can to it en · VERB

Meanings

  1. (US, dated, imperative, slang) To forget it; to put an end to it.
    • For ten years this phrase has proved the life of the agency business, and to tie a can to it today might terminate more seriously than could be imagined. 1909, A.G. Hendricks, Judicious Advertising and Advertising Experience, page 33:
    • You better tie a can to it, sis; it don't get over with me. 1917, B. M. Bower, Starr, of the Desert, page 26:
    • Damn the past. Let's tie a can to it. 2011, Dolores Gordon-Smith, A Hundred Thousand Dragons:
    • Jean said disgustedly, “Tie a can to it, Webbard. Talk sense.” 2012, Jack Vance, Golden Girl and Other Stories:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
ties a can to it Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
tied a can to it Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
tied a can to it Tense=Past lexicographic
tying a can to it Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic