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clanger

American  
[klang-er] / ˈklæŋ ər /

noun

  1. a person or thing that clangs.

  2. British Slang. a blunder; faux pas.


idioms

  1. drop a clanger, to blunder.

clanger British  
/ ˈklæŋə /

noun

  1. informal a conspicuous mistake (esp in the phrase drop a clanger )

  2. something that clangs or causes a clang

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of clanger

First recorded in 1945–50; clang + -er 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Its flowers are extravagant, with an extra-long, maroon-purple clanger dangling from each fuchsia bell; its distinctive leaves are heart shaped, with toothed edges.

From Seattle Times Jan. 18, 2023

"Some night he'll move and other nights he'll stand and play, Some nights he might be a bit out of it and drop the odd clanger but he never coasts."

From BBC Nov. 18, 2020

We’re all waiting for the quarterback dilemma to work itself out, and when it did it seemed like yet another clanger from head coach Bill Belichick.

From The Guardian Feb. 3, 2018

Not an enormous clanger, but the keeper should’ve done better there.

From The Guardian Nov. 8, 2015

Uri was howling like a wolf, and even as the oven chimney pipes toppled like trees, I laughed and pulled and pulled the clanger rope.

From "Milkweed" by Jerry Spinelli

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