Tin-pot

//ˈtɪnpɒt// adj, noun, slang

adj, noun, slang ·Moderate ·High school level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A tin-pot dictator. figuratively, informal
Adjective
  1. 1
    Of inferior quality; shoddy. figuratively, informal, not-comparable

    "It was a great comfort to turn from that chap to my influential friend, the battered, twisted, ruined, tin-pot steamboat."

  2. 2
    Insignificant or minor, especially in an amusing and petty manner. figuratively, informal, not-comparable

    "Jim Hacker: Why are we having an official visit from this tin-pot little African country? / Sir Humphrey Appleby: Minister, I beg of you not to refer to it as a tin-pot little African country. It's an LDC."

Synonyms

All synonyms
basepitifulslightwretchedassbad

Example

More examples

"Donald Trump was on his way to becoming a tin-pot dictator, propped up by corrupt sycophants such as Attorney General William Barr."

Etymology

From tin + pot, referring to the cheapness and poor quality of pots made from tin or tin plate.

Related phrases

tin-pot dictatortin-pot dictatorship

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.