tin god

English

Etymology

From tin's figurative sense as "worthless" or "counterfeit" in relation to silver and god's use for idols.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

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Noun

tin god (plural tin gods)

1. (idiomatic) A false god, particularly a petty tyrant, a person who abuses or exceeds their authority over others in petty ways.
   • 1886, Rudyard Kipling, Departmental Ditties, p. 24:

     The Little Tin Gods harried their little tin souls.

   • 1909, Frederic William Wile & al., Our German Cousins, p. 89:

     In Prussia alone there are 492 Landräte—a sort of district commissioner—all Government officials or directly in touch with the central government, and all little tin gods in their own district.

   • 1943 March 3, Redacted Dodgeville, Wisconsin, Draft Board member, FBI report:

     [Frank Lloyd Wright] was regarded by members of the fellowship as somewhat of an idol, a tin god, or a master, who could do no wrong.

References

• “tin, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.

Anagrams

• doting, tin dog