Word.ws English Dictionary

can is can

More pronunciations (1)Fewer pronunciations

Singapore/ˈkæn ɪz ˈkæn/

can is can phrase: while something is possible or makes sense in theory, it may not be as straightforward or sensible as initially thought, or may prove to be less successful in practice.

Phrase

can is can

  1. (Singapore, Singlish) While something is possible or makes sense in theory, it may not be as straightforward or sensible as initially thought, or may prove to be less successful in practice.
    • I packed lots of sleeveless clothes, sunblock, and of course a cap. Slippers? Can is can but Hong Kongers are not usually so sloppy la. People here wear pretty nice shoes, and the youngsters are carrying drawstring bags.2015 June 25, Skye Soon, “Skye High in Hong Kong: Places”, in skyesoon.com
    • How about turning one man’s trash into another man’s treasure? Well, can is can.2021 January 26, G Tan, “Thought Ambush’s Clothes Peg Earring Was Wild? Here Are 3 More Mind-Blowing Accessories”, in you.co, archived from the original on 11 Apr 2021
  2. (Singapore, Singlish) Used to reassure someone that something is definitely possible or doable, by reinforcing the definitiveness of a previous statement of can.
    • This has helped a lot when it comes to taking on different projects. We try to have a “can is can” attitude, rather than saying no when we’re uncertain or feel intimidated by unfamiliar materials. Instead, we just say, “Let’s do it and see how it goes.”2023 December 11, Zara Zhuang, quoting Sanchia Tan, “#GraziaGameChangers: Sanchia Tan On How Design, Textiles And Weave Are Intertwined”, in grazia.sg, archived from the original on 11 Dec 2023

Origin of can is can

See can (“fine, acceptable, possible”, Singlish, intransitive).

Questions about can is can

What does can is can mean?
Can is can means while something is possible or makes sense in theory, it may not be as straightforward or sensible as initially thought, or may prove to be less successful in practice.
What part of speech is can is can?
Can is can is a phrase.
How do you pronounce can is can?
Can is can is pronounced /ˈkæn ɪz ˈkæn/ (Singapore).

Words near can is can in the dictionary

  1. can I help you
  2. can I smoke
  3. can I speak to the manager haircut
  4. can I speak to the manager haircuts
  5. can I use your phone
  6. can is can
  7. can it
  8. can kicker
  9. can kickers
  10. can light
  11. can man

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: can is can (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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