what-do-you-call-it

what-do-you-call-it
noun or what-do-you-call-them also what-do-you-call-her or what-do-you-call-him \\ˈ(h)wä]d.ə ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷, -wə-, -wȯ-, ]tdə-\ (-s)
: a thing or person that the speaker cannot (as from not knowing or from forgetting) or does not wish to name

hand me one of those little what-do-you-call-thems

* * *

what-do-you-call-it «HWOT duh yuh KL iht, HWUHT-», noun.
Informal. something whose name one forgets, does not know, or thinks not worth mentioning; thingumbob: »

She forgot the word “orange” and kept telling me she was out of what-do-you-call-its (Atlantic).


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • what-d'you-call-it — whatˈ d you call it, em, etc noun A word substituted for the name of a thing or person in forgetfulness or contempt (also whatˈ you may call it, etc) • • • Main Entry: ↑what * * * what d you call it (or what s its name) informal another term for… …   Useful english dictionary

  • what do you call it? — what do you call it/him/her/them/? spoken phrase used when you are trying to think of the correct name for someone or something Thesaurus: words used when you do not know or cannot remember what someone or something is calledsynonym …   Useful english dictionary

  • what-d'you-call-him — ˈwhat d you call him/ her/ it/ them | ˈwhat s his/ her/ its/ their name idiom used instead of a name that you cannot remember • She s just gone out with old what d you call him. Main entry: ↑whatidiom …   Useful english dictionary

  • what do you call him? — what do you call it/him/her/them/? spoken phrase used when you are trying to think of the correct name for someone or something Thesaurus: words used when you do not know or cannot remember what someone or something is calledsynonym …   Useful english dictionary

  • what do you call her? — what do you call it/him/her/them/? spoken phrase used when you are trying to think of the correct name for someone or something Thesaurus: words used when you do not know or cannot remember what someone or something is calledsynonym …   Useful english dictionary

  • what do you call them? — what do you call it/him/her/them/? spoken phrase used when you are trying to think of the correct name for someone or something Thesaurus: words used when you do not know or cannot remember what someone or something is calledsynonym …   Useful english dictionary

  • what-d'you-call-it (or what's-its name) — informal used as a substitute for a name not recalled. → what …   English new terms dictionary

  • what-do-you-call-her — noun see what do you call it …   Useful english dictionary

  • what-do-you-call-him — noun see what do you call it …   Useful english dictionary

  • what-do-you-call-them — noun see what do you call it …   Useful english dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”