clickety-clack: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Onomatopoeic
Quick answer
What does “clickety-clack” mean?
A repetitive, rhythmic sound, typically made by the impact of hard objects, often associated with old trains or typewriters.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A repetitive, rhythmic sound, typically made by the impact of hard objects, often associated with old trains or typewriters.
Any continuous, rapid, percussive sound pattern that evokes a sense of mechanical rhythm or repetitive motion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical; the word itself is not region-specific. Contexts of use (e.g., train travel) may differ in cultural salience.
Connotations
Conveys a nostalgic or descriptive, slightly whimsical tone in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both BrE and AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “clickety-clack” in a Sentence
The [NOUN] went clickety-clack.We heard the clickety-clack of [NOUN].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clickety-clack” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The old carriage began to clickety-clack along the rails.
American English
- The train started to clickety-clack down the track.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Potential in creative marketing or describing outdated office equipment.
Academic
Used only in descriptive writing or discussions of onomatopoeia.
Everyday
Used for evocative description, especially by older generations recalling trains.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “clickety-clack”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clickety-clack”
- Using it as a verb without 'go' or 'make' (e.g., 'The train clickety-clacked' is less standard than 'The train went clickety-clack').
- Spelling as 'clickity-clack'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a real, standard English word classified as an onomatopoeic noun (and sometimes verb). It is found in major dictionaries.
It is strongly associated with older mechanical devices (trains, typewriters). Using it for modern electronics (like a keyboard) would be a conscious, stylistic choice to evoke a retro feel.
'Click' and 'clack' suggest single, distinct sounds. 'Clickety-clack' implies a rapid, continuous, rhythmic sequence of such sounds.
Most commonly as a noun after 'the' (the clickety-clack) or as a verb preceded by 'go' or 'make' (it went clickety-clack). It can also be used alone as an interjection.
A repetitive, rhythmic sound, typically made by the impact of hard objects, often associated with old trains or typewriters.
Clickety-clack is usually informal, onomatopoeic in register.
Clickety-clack: in British English it is pronounced /ˌklɪk.ɪ.ti ˈklæk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌklɪk.ə.t̬i ˈklæk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine an old CLICKing typewriter KEY being followed by a loud CLACK as the carriage returns.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOUND IS RHYTHMIC MOTION (The sound *is* the journey of the train).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'clickety-clack' LEAST likely to be used?