Meaning & use
carry can
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A container with a handle for carrying liquid, especially fuel or water, by hand.
Grammar: Countable: one carry can, two carry cans. Often written as two words, sometimes as 'carrycan'.
Patterns
- a carry can of fuel
- fill a carry can
- a carry can for water
He filled a carry can with petrol for the generator.
Take a carry can of water on the camping trip.
The soldiers refilled their carry cans at the well.
Word forms
| plural | carry cans |
|---|
Common combinations
- a carry can of petrol
- She bought a carry can of petrol for the lawnmower.
- fill a carry can
- Fill the carry can before we leave; the nearest station is far.
- a five-gallon carry can
- A five-gallon carry can is too heavy to lift when full.
- a jerry can
- A jerry can is the military-style carry can with a narrow spout.
Synonyms and how they differ
- jerry can
- A specific flat-sided fuel container, originally military; 'carry can' is a broader, more general term.
- can
- Much shorter and more general; 'carry can' emphasizes that it has a handle for carrying.
Commonly confused: carry can or can?
carry can vs can
A plain 'can' is a sealed metal container for food or drink; a carry can is a reusable container with a handle for liquids.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'carry can' most naturally?
Choose one answer.
A carry can holds liquid such as water or fuel, so taking one to a campsite fits. A can of soup is a food can, clothes would go in a bag, and a can cannot be read.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “carry can”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.