Meanings
- SingaporeSinglishWhile something is possible or makes sense in theory, it may not be as straightforward or sensible as initially thought, or may prove to be less successful in practice.
How about turning one man’s trash into another man’s treasure? Well, can is can.
2021 January 26, G Tan, “Thought Ambush’s Clothes Peg Earring Was Wild? Here Are 3 More Mind-Blowing Accessories”, in you.co, archived from the original on 11 Apr 20211 more example
I packed lots of sleeveless clothes, sunblock, and of course a cap. Slippers? Can is can but Hong Kongers are not usually so sloppy la. People here wear pretty nice shoes, and the youngsters are carrying drawstring bags.
2015 June 25, Skye Soon, “Skye High in Hong Kong: Places”, in skyesoon.com - SingaporeSinglishUsed to reassure someone that something is definitely possible or doable, by reinforcing the definitiveness of a previous statement of can.
This has helped a lot when it comes to taking on different projects. We try to have a “can is can” attitude, rather than saying no when we’re uncertain or feel intimidated by unfamiliar materials. Instead, we just say, “Let’s do it and see how it goes.”
2023 December 11, Zara Zhuang, quoting Sanchia Tan, “#GraziaGameChangers: Sanchia Tan On How Design, Textiles And Weave Are Intertwined”, in grazia.sg, archived from the original on 11 Dec 2023
Origin
See can (“fine, acceptable, possible”, Singlish, intransitive).
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
can is can. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/can%20is%20can
“can is can.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/can%20is%20can. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “can is can,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/can%20is%20can.
Source: can is can on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.