can of corn

English

Etymology

The phrase, first used in 1896, makes reference to a long-ago practice where a grocer would use a stick to tip a can of vegetables off a high shelf, then catch it in his hands or outstretched apron. Corn was the best-selling vegetable and so was heavily stocked on the lowest shelves, making it the easiest of the can "catches" for the grocer. (See Seattle Post Intelligencer - Sports Answer Guy article)

Pronunciation
  • Audio (AU)(file)

Noun

can of corn (plural cans of corn)

  1. (baseball) An easily caught fly ball.
    He hits a can of corn to left.
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