sin bin
- noun
- /sɪn bɪn/
- Jargon
- During the match, the referee sent the player to the sin bin for two minutes after a foul.
- sin bin penalty
- sin bin box
Examples
-
After his deliberate offside, the coach told him to be prepared to spend time in the sin bin.
-
Quite apart from having a calming effect, the 'sin bin' (penalty box) might actually serve to increase the likelihood of further aggressive behavior.
Academic text (2002) -
In rugby, if a player breaks the rules, they often must sit in the sin bin as a penalty.
Synonyms
A punishment given to a player or team for breaking a rule in a game
A small area in ice hockey where a player sits to serve time after a penalty
How Severe
Surface Forms
Morphology
The parts 'sin' (wrongdoing) and 'bin' (a place to put things) give a metaphorical clue — a place to put someone for wrongdoing — so learners can get a vague idea. However, the specific sports sense (a temporary penalty area where a player must sit out) is culture- and domain-specific and not directly predictable from the words alone, so a B1 learner would likely need exposure to learn the exact meaning.
Etymology
Sin bin comes from sports where a player who breaks a rule must sit in a small marked area or box for a short time. The name imagines putting the player's sin in a bin — like putting the bad act away — so it now means 'a place to sit out as punishment'.