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You are here: Home / Language / How Did the Phrase “Tinker’s Dam” For Something Useless Originate and What Does the Expression Mean?

How Did the Phrase “Tinker’s Dam” For Something Useless Originate and What Does the Expression Mean?

July 1, 2020 by Karen Hill

A tinker traveled from town to town repairing tin pots, kettles, and pans and got his name from the noise he made while working.

His equipment included clay from which he made a mold to hold melted solder for refastening handles and joints.

He called this mold a “dam,” and because it was only good for one pot, the tinker tossed it when the job was done.

That’s how a tinker’s dam became synonymous with worthless.

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Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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