Meaning of tin god | Babel Free

Definitions

A false god, particularly a petty tyrant, a person who abuses or exceeds their authority over others in petty ways.

idiomatic

Examples

“Wherefore the Little Tin Gods harried their little tin souls, / Seeing he came not from Chatham, jingled no spurs at his heels; […]”

“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.”

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

“ELIAS: Well, Doctor, I've been thinking about what sort of work I could assign you to. MCCOY: What do you mean, what sort of work? I'm a doctor. ELIAS: Not any more, of course. We don't need you. Not as a doctor. MCCOY: Oh, no? Would you like to see just how fast I can put you in a hospital? ELIAS: I am the leader of this colony. I'll assign you to whatever work I think is suitable. MCCOY: Just a minute. You'd better make me a mechanic. Then I can treat little tin gods like you. (He punches Elias.)”

CEFR level