What is the meaning of ""he couldn't see a single collecting tin""? - Question about English (US) (2024)

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gracieinthemist

26 Aug 2017

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Answer: 47

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What is the meaning of ""he couldn't see a single collecting tin""? - Question about English (US) (2)

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WDKang

28 Aug 2019

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  • Simplified Chinese (China)

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I was reading Harry Potter and I find this confusing too.

After several dig out, I think this "collecting tin" is referring to Mr Dursley thought they were gathering for "a silly stunt" when he first saw those people(wizard).

"A silly stunt" could mean they were collecting money for some fund raise purpose(like a publicity stunt). e.g. the Ice Bucket Challenge.

And "collecting tin" is a metal box for collecting money. Mr Dursley thought they'd have collecting tin because he thought they were raising money.

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mujerbonita13

26 Aug 2017

  • English (US)

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"He could not see a collecting tin anywhere"

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  • Vietnamese

Quality Point(s): 54

Answer: 47

Like: 39

Thank you. Btw, what does tin mean?

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mujerbonita13

26 Aug 2017

  • English (US)

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Like: 824

@daisy652 a tin is a container or box that is usually made out of metal. Does that make more sense?

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gracieinthemist

26 Aug 2017

  • Vietnamese

Quality Point(s): 54

Answer: 47

Like: 39

"This bunch were whispering excitedly, too, and he couldn’t see a single collecting tin. It was on his way back past them, clutching a large doughnut in a bag, that he caught a few words of what they were saying."

I was reading this and didn't really understand what was going on, especially the "collecting tin" part, it didn't seem related to the context. Or just because I didn't understand the context at all 😂

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mujerbonita13

26 Aug 2017

  • English (US)

Quality Point(s): 4475

Answer: 1052

Like: 824

@daisy652 oh, okay! Does it make sense now?

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gracieinthemist

26 Aug 2017

  • Vietnamese

Quality Point(s): 54

Answer: 47

Like: 39

I still don't get it 😂 can you help?

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mujerbonita13

26 Aug 2017

  • English (US)

Quality Point(s): 4475

Answer: 1052

Like: 824

Okay! The paragraph is saying:
The character heard a group of people whispering, but he didn't know what they were saying. He was looking for a collecting tin (probably like a bucket. I'm not sure), but he didn't see one. Since he couldn't find a tin, he walked back. When he walked by the group this time, he could understand what they were saying.
Does this help?

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gracieinthemist

26 Aug 2017

  • Vietnamese

Quality Point(s): 54

Answer: 47

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Oh, now I can understand. Thank you so much for your help.

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mujerbonita13

26 Aug 2017

  • English (US)

Quality Point(s): 4475

Answer: 1052

Like: 824

@daisy652 my pleasure!

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WDKang

28 Aug 2019

  • Simplified Chinese (China)

Quality Point(s): 31

Answer: 9

Like: 9

I was reading Harry Potter and I find this confusing too.

After several dig out, I think this "collecting tin" is referring to Mr Dursley thought they were gathering for "a silly stunt" when he first saw those people(wizard).

"A silly stunt" could mean they were collecting money for some fund raise purpose(like a publicity stunt). e.g. the Ice Bucket Challenge.

And "collecting tin" is a metal box for collecting money. Mr Dursley thought they'd have collecting tin because he thought they were raising money.

What is the meaning of ""he couldn't see a single collecting tin""? - Question about English (US) (50)

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What is the meaning of ""he couldn't see a single collecting tin""? - Question about English (US) (57)

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