a metal container with a handle, used for cooking food on a stove or fire, a shallow metal container used for baking food in an oven, to criticize someone or something severely

off the top of one's head, out of the frying pan into the fire, hit the pan

Formal and Informal Expressions of pan

In different contexts, you can replace 'pan' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'container, utensil' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'pot, thing' is a commonplace synonym.

pan: Explore its Definition & Usage

pan Definition

1a metal container with a handle, used for cooking food on a stove or fire
2a shallow metal container used for baking food in an oven
3to criticize someone or something severely

Using pan: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "pan" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
She fried the eggs in a pan.
Example
The cake is in the oven pan.
Example
The movie was panned by critics.
Example
The book was panned by readers for its poor writing style.

pan Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for pan

Antonyms for pan

Phrases with pan

off the top of one's head
without thinking about something carefully
Example
I can't remember the exact number off the top of my head, but it was around 50.
out of the frying pan into the fire
moving from a bad situation to a worse one
Example
I thought quitting my job would solve my problems, but now I'm in debt. It's like jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.
hit the pan
to run out of something, especially food
Example
We need to go grocery shopping soon. We're hitting the pan on milk and bread.

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Summary: pan in Brief

A 'pan' [pæn] is a metal container with a handle used for cooking food on a stove or fire, or a shallow metal container used for baking food in an oven. It can also mean to criticize someone or something severely, as in 'The movie was panned by critics.' Phrases like 'off the top of one's head' and 'out of the frying pan into the fire' are commonly used. 'Pan' is a versatile noun and verb that can be used in both formal and informal contexts.