what it says on the tin
- idiom
- UK
:
hace lo que promete
- And it, it's, you know, it does what it says on the tin, which is to look for consolations among the work of some great philosophers.
The brightening eye serum, right does what it says on the tin, brightens up the under eye area.
- The brightening eye serum, right does what it says on the tin, brightens up the under eye area.
Examples
-
The brightening eye serum, right does what it says on the tin, brightens up the under eye area.
-
Does it do what it says on the tin?
Blog text (3) -
This car is exactly what it says on the tin; it drives smoothly and has great fuel efficiency.
-
The blender does what it says on the tin; it easily turns fruits and vegetables into smoothies.
-
Her advice was what it says on the tin; simple and practical for anyone to follow.
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
what + it + say + on + the + tin
The phrase literally links 'what it says' with a product label ('on the tin'), so its meaning — that something matches its description or advertised function — can be inferred by relating the constituents to the idea of a label. However, this inference depends on pragmatic/cultural knowledge (the notion of product labeling on a tin) and is a conventionalized metaphorical extension, so the relation is not fully transparent to all B1 learners.
Etymology
What it says on the tin gives a simple picture: a tin with a clear label, and when you open it you find exactly what the label says. So, if something is what it says on the tin, it means 'exactly as described'.