it does exactly what it says on the tin

Useful phrase originating in a series of infuriating advertisements for Ronseal varnishes. To paraphrase the ad:

Ad man: Ronseal quick-drying five-year woodstain is a quick-drying woodstain from Ronseal, that lasts for five years. Ronseal. It does exactly what it says on the tin.

Although "Does exactly what it says on the tin" is a registered trademark of Ronseal, it is widely used to indicate self-evidence or redundancy. e.g. "What does the self-destruct system do?", "It does exactly what it says on the tin".

This sounds like something that will eventually work its way into Nethack, and probably sooner rather than later.

    "You have found a tin (m)."

(r)ead (m)

    "The tin reads 'One (1) tin of whoop-ass.'"

(/)(n)Tin of whoop-ass (This is the "what-is" command.)

    "It does exactly what it says on the tin."

(#-a)pply (m)

    "This is a tin of whoop-ass! (more)"
    "In which direction would you like to apply?"

(6)

    "You open up a tin of whoop-ass on the orc! (more)"
    "You slay the orc!"

This would probably exercise charisma. Who's the man? Who's the man??

(This has been yet another hopeless Nethack injoke, and one that probably should never have escaped from its newsgroup.)