# sugar basin

idiom · Slang

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/sugar-basin
Updated: 2026-06-07

## Meaning

a marble mason

## Examples

- The sugar basin is carving a new stone statue.
- 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.

## 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.

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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.