Does exactly what it says on the tin
"[It] does exactly what it says on the tin" is a popular phrase in the United Kingdom, which originated in a series of television commercials by the woodstain and wood-dye manufacturer Ronseal, initiated in the late 1980s and still running as of 2004. The idea of the phrase was to emphasise that the company's products would act and last for the amount of time exactly as described on the tin. The expression quickly entered British popular culture, used to describe anything that is exactly as it appears or claims to be; is particularly simple or straight-forward; and/or works exactly as advertised. The phrase is also very commonly known and used in Ireland, the Ronseal advertising campaign having also been run there. More recently, toothpaste manufacturer Colgate has begun a similar copycat advertising campaign in Ireland stating that its product, "does exactly what it says on the tube." Compare the expression "wysiwyg".
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