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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

He’d been playing well before that clanger, as well.

From The Guardian ● Feb. 13, 2021

"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

After a second straight clanger, “one off” is no longer an excuse, particularly given the basic nature of their mistakes.

From The Guardian ● Sep. 1, 2014

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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