Paltry metal can (3-3)
I believe the answer is:
tin-pot
'paltry' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
'metal can' is the wordplay.
'metal' becomes 'tin' (tin is a kind of metal).
'can' becomes 'pot' (synonyms).
'tin'+'pot'='TIN-POT'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tin-pot that I've seen before include "Worthless, contemptible" , "(Of country/leader) poor in leadership/organisation" , "Scornful term for worthless or inferior - like metallic utensil" , "(Of a country or leader) of poor quality" , "Scornfully worthless like metallic utensil" .)