tinker, tailor

noun

A method of choosing between two or more people or things, used by children. The child points to each item in turn (or alternately), while saying the rhyme "tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor, rich man, poor man, beggar-man, thief", moving to the next item after naming each profession. The item pointed at on the word 'thief' is the one chosen.

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Meanings

nountinker, tailor (uncountable)
  1. uncountablegamesA method of choosing between two or more people or things, used by children. The child points to each item in turn (or alternately), while saying the rhyme "tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor, rich man, poor man, beggar-man, thief", moving to the next item after naming each profession. The item pointed at on the word 'thief' is the one chosen.
Cite this entry
APA

tinker, tailor. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tinker%2C%20tailor

MLA

“tinker, tailor.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tinker%2C%20tailor. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “tinker, tailor,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tinker%2C%20tailor.

Source: tinker, tailor on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.