# couldn't carry a note in a bucket

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/couldnt-carry-a-note-in-a-bucket
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Not musically talented, unable to sing.

## Examples

- I love singing, but I couldn't carry a note in a bucket.
- My sister wants to join the choir, but she couldn't carry a note in a bucket if her life depended on it.
- Despite his immense passion for opera, the poor man couldn't carry a note in a bucket, much to the dismay of his vocal coach.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.