tin medal
n.— «While some say fourth place is the worst place to be at the Olympics, don’t tell that to Upperton.…As new as Canada is to the women’s sled game—other countries have been at it for six, seven years—a “tin medal,” as it’s known, doesn’t leave that bad a taste in your mouth.» —“Winning ‘tin’ tickles Canadian bobsledders” by Paul Friesen Winnipeg Sun (Manitoba, Canada) Feb. 22, 2006. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
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