shower in a can

6.1

A spray you use to clean your body when there is no water

noun

: ducha en aerosol

Many busy travelers carry a shower in a can for times when water isn’t available.

Examples

For hospital patients who can't bathe, nurses sometimes provide a shower in a can.
After finishing his hike, Tom used a shower in a can to freshen up instantly.
I love using shower in a can when camping.
Have you tried the new shower in a can product?
After finishing his hike, Tom used a shower in a can to freshen up instantly.
For hospital patients who can't bathe, nurses sometimes provide a shower in a can.
Many busy travelers carry a shower in a can for times when water isn’t available.

Synonyms

spray can

vsshower in a can

5 2.4

A small container that sprays liquid or gas when you press a button

is made to clean the body quickly without using water

How Convenient

wet wipe

3 1.3

shower in a can

6.1

sponge bath

15 3.2

to shower

140 1.0

Surface Forms

shower in a can singular

showers in a can plural

Morphology

shower + in + a + can

The meaning is directly compositional: 'shower' (washing) combined with the locative phrase 'in a can' signals a shower-like product contained in a can, so a learner who knows the parts can infer it is a portable spray substitute for a conventional shower. This follows common noun+"in a container" naming patterns (e.g. 'soup in a can'), making the construction readily interpretable by B1 learners.

Etymology

Shower in a can comes from the simple image of getting a whole shower from a small can you spray on your body. So, it means 'a portable spray used to quickly clean the body without water'.