tin-pot dictator

See also: tinpot dictator

English

WOTD – 12 June 2024

Etymology

PIE word
*budnós

From tin-pot (“of inferior quality, shoddy; insignificant or minor, especially in an amusing and petty manner”) +‎ dictator, referring to the cheapness and poor quality of pots made from tin or tin plate.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌtɪnpɒt dɪkˈteɪtə/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌtɪnˌpɑt ˈdɪkˌteɪtəɹ/, [-ɾəɹ]
• Rhymes: -eɪtə(ɹ)
• Hyphenation: tin-pot dic‧ta‧tor

Noun

tin-pot dictator (plural tin-pot dictators)

1. (derogatory) An autocratic ruler with little political credibility, typically having delusions of grandeur.
   • 1995, Edward S. Herman, Triumph of the Market: Essays on Economics, Politics, and the Media, South End Press, →ISBN, page 197:

     Broder did mention in passing that the Reagan administration had earlier supported the "tin-pot dictator" and drug trader Manuel Noriega, but he never mentioned George Shultz's presence and sanctioning of the fraudulent Panamanian election of 1984, which left Noriega in charge.

Alternative forms

• tinpot dictator, tin pot dictator

Derived terms

• tin-pot dictatorship

Translations

autocratic ruler with little political credibility

• Finnish: pikkudiktaattori
• Macedonian: please add this translation if you can

Further reading

• dictator on Wikipedia.Wikipedia