The sugar basin is carving a new stone statue.
sugar basin
idiom Slang
Cockney rhyming slang · East London
a marble mason
Origin
The appearance of rough white marble resembles a sugar lump and being a soft stone (when newly quarried) it is easy (ie sweet) to work with.
We hired a skilled sugar basin to repair the marble steps at the front entrance.
The cathedral restoration project required a master sugar basin to carefully restore the intricate marble carvings on the facade.
Last updated June 7, 2026