Tin pot god

Posted by David FG on July 17, 2011 at 20:11

In Reply to: Tin pot god posted by Roger on July 17, 2011 at 19:22:

: I was watching the Granada Television series of Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, and Dr. Watson used a phrase I would like to know more about. He referred to a person as a "tin-pot/tin pot(?) god." I think I understand the meaning as to someone who thinks they are bigger than they really are, but why put a god in a tin pot?

I suspect that it refers to a statue or image of a God being made of cheap material (the sort of thin tim used to make substandard pots). Thus, a tin pot god is one that is lacking in any real substance.

DFG

• Tin pot god Victoria S Dennis 24/July/11 (0)