lid

lid — noun

1. a flat or curved piece of plastic, metal, glass, or wood that fits over a contai

1.nounB1
Definition

a flat or curved piece of plastic, metal, glass, or wood that fits over a container's top — such as a jar, pot, box, or pan — to keep the contents inside or protect them from dust or air.

Example

Devika twisted the lid off the jam jar, releasing a sweet cherry smell.

twist the lid off [container]

Indra tapped the biscuit tin lid with her spoon while her tea brewed.

the lid of [container]

Common collocations
  • lid off
  • lid on
  • tighten the lid
  • screw the lid
  • twist the lid
  • pop the lid
  • lift the lid
  • jar lid
  • pot lid
  • box lid
Synonyms
  • cover

    more general; a lid is a type of cover, but 'cover' can also mean a cloth or sheet placed over something

  • top

    informal and very general; 'top' works for bottles, jars, and containers in everyday speech

  • cap

    used specifically for bottles, tubes, and pens — not for jars or pots

Grammar Patterns

the lid of [container]

lid + off/on

Usage Note

The specific verb for removing or fastening a lid depends on the container type: you screw or twist a jar lid, pop a Tupperware lid, and lift a pot lid. 'Lid' is countable — you can say 'a lid' or 'the lid'.

Common Mistakes

I can't open the cap of the jam jar.
I can't open the lid of the jam jar.
'Cap' is used for bottles and tubes; jars and pots have 'lids'.

2. the upper and lower movable layers of skin that shield the eyeball when you clos

2.nounB1
Definition

the upper and lower movable layers of skin that shield the eyeball when you close your eyes, blocking light and keeping out dust.

Example

Owen's eyelids were so heavy after the flight that he fell asleep during the movie.

heavy eyelids

A tiny speck of dust landed on Élise's eyelid and made her blink repeatedly.

dust on eyelid

Common collocations
  • heavy eyelids
  • droopy eyelids
  • rub one's eyelids
  • upper eyelid
  • lower eyelid
Synonyms
  • eyelid

    the full and more common term; 'lid' in this sense is often understood but 'eyelid' is preferred in most contexts

Grammar Patterns

[possessive] + eyelid(s)

Usage Note

In everyday English, 'eyelid' is far more common than 'lid' alone for this sense. The short form 'lid' appears mainly in compounds ('eyelid') or in fixed phrases ('heavy-lidded eyes'). The word is often used in the plural ('eyelids') because both upper and lower lids are usually involved.

Common Mistakes

My lid is swollen.
My eyelid is swollen.
Using 'lid' alone to mean 'eyelid' sounds odd in modern English; always say 'eyelid' for clarity.
Idioms

flip your lid

idiom

to suddenly become very angry and lose control of your emotions.

Eli flipped his lid when he saw the scratch on his new motorcycle.

I know you are upset, but there is no need to flip your lid over a broken plate.

keep a lid on something

idiom

to keep a situation under control and prevent it from getting worse; also used to mean keeping something secret.

The school managed to keep a lid on the bullying problem before the parents found out.

Ravindra tried to keep a lid on the surprise party plans until his sister's birthday.

lift the lid on / take the lid off something

idiom

to reveal unpleasant or shocking facts that have been hidden from the public.

The journalist's book lifts the lid on the illegal trade of wild animals in Asia.

A leaked report took the lid off the corruption at the city council.

put a lid on something

idiom

to stop something from growing, continuing, or causing further problems.

Christopher decided to put a lid on his spending after checking his credit card bill.

The principal put a lid on the rumours by holding a school-wide meeting.

keep a/the lid on something

idiom

To prevent something from becoming known or from getting worse.

Maya tried to keep the lid on her surprise party plans.

The company kept a lid on the bad news until after the holidays.

put the (tin) lid on something/things

idiom

To be the final event that ruins plans or hopes.

The cancelled flight put the lid on our vacation plans.

Losing his job put the tin lid on Diego's hopes for a new car.

lid — verb

Word family

  • lidded
    adjectiveC1
  • eyelid
    nounB1
  • lidless
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

The words lid, cap, cover, and top all refer to something that closes or protects a container, but they attach to different objects. Lid is the best word for jars, pots, pans, boxes, and tins — it usually fits over the opening or is attached by a hinge. Cap is narrower: it refers to the small, often screw-on or snap-on top of a bottle, tube, or pen. A toothpaste tube has a cap, not a lid. Cover is the most general word — it can be a cloth (cushion cover), a hard piece (manhole cover), or a protective sheet (phone cover). Top is the informal everyday word for any closing piece: 'Where's the top of this bottle?' In short: use lid for containers you cook with or store food in, cap for bottles and tubes, cover for general protection, and top for casual conversation about any closure.

lid ↗cap ↗cover ↗top

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • put the lid on
  • take the lid off
  • screw the lid on
  • twist the lid off
  • lift the lid
  • pop the lid open
  • seal the lid

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'lid' comes from Old English 'hlid', which meant a cover, an opening, or even a gate. It can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic root '*hlidą', meaning 'that which covers'. This ancient root is also related to the Old High German 'hlit' (a cover) and the Old Norse 'hlið' (a gate or opening). The sense of 'eyelid' appeared in English around the 13th century as a shortened form of 'eyelid' — the eye-lid being literally 'the skin that covers the eye like a lid covers a pot'.