put the tin lid on it

English

Verb

put the tin lid on it (third-person singular simple present puts the tin lid on it, present participle putting the tin lid on it, simple past and past participle put the tin lid on it)

1. To be one final unwelcome event that rounds off a series of problems or misfortunes.

   I got a flat tyre, then the heater broke, and then, just to put the tin lid on it, I ran out of petrol.

See also

• last straw
• final straw