ENGLISH
REFERENCE

can of corn

idiom
Meaning

An easily caught fly ball.


Origin

first recorded 19th c.

The phrase, first attested in 1896, refers to the practice of a grocer using a long stick to push a can of goods off a high shelf. (See Seattle Post Intelligencer - Sports Answer Guy article)

Examples
SIMPLE

The outfielder easily caught the can of corn.

CONTEXTUAL

The batter hit a high, lazy fly ball that was a simple can of corn for the center fielder.

COMPLEX

With the game on the line, the final out proved to be nothing more than a routine can of corn for the veteran outfielder.

Anchors to
Related idioms3entries
  1. 01

    acknowledge the corn

    To admit to the truth of the point at issue or to a mistake; to cop a plea; or perhaps to admit to a small error but not a larger one.

  2. 02

    eat one's seed corn

    To consume what is meant for investment instead.

  3. 03

    grind the corn

    To perform the coital alignment technique

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