clinkety-clank: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Literary, Descriptive
Quick answer
What does “clinkety-clank” mean?
An onomatopoeic phrase representing a repetitive, metallic, jangling sound, especially of chains, loose machinery, or dishes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An onomatopoeic phrase representing a repetitive, metallic, jangling sound, especially of chains, loose machinery, or dishes.
Used to evoke a vivid auditory image of noisy, irregular, and often somewhat annoying metallic rattling or banging.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Slightly more literary/descriptive than everyday.
Connotations
Same in both: often connotes cheapness, looseness, breakdown, or cacophony.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “clinkety-clank” in a Sentence
[Subject] + went + clinkety-clankThe + clinkety-clank + of + [noun]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clinkety-clank” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The ancient lift clinkety-clanked its way up to the third floor.
- Bits of the lorry's exhaust were clinkety-clanking along the motorway.
American English
- The old pickup truck clinkety-clanked down the dirt road.
- The loose pipes clinkety-clanked every time the heat came on.
adverb
British English
- The chains fell clinkety-clank to the floor.
- The cart moved clinkety-clank over the stones.
American English
- The engine ran clinkety-clank before it finally died.
- The tools rattled clinkety-clank in the metal box.
adjective
British English
- We were kept awake by a dreadful clinkety-clank noise from the radiator.
- He described the process in clinkety-clank terms.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; might appear in descriptive marketing for artisanal or retro products.
Academic
Virtually never used except in literary analysis or linguistic discussions of onomatopoeia.
Everyday
Used in vivid storytelling or to humorously describe a noisy object.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clinkety-clank”
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'I heard a clinkety-clank'). More natural: 'I heard a clinkety-clank sound' or 'I heard clinkety-clanking'.
- Using it to describe a single, clean metallic note (like a bell).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is considered a single lexical unit, often hyphenated as a compound onomatopoeic phrase.
Yes, informally, meaning to make such a sound (e.g., 'The engine clinkety-clanked').
'Clink' is a lighter, higher-pitched metallic sound (glasses). 'Clank' is heavier, duller, and louder (metal pipe hitting the ground). 'Clinkety-clank' suggests a rapid, irregular alternation or mixture of such sounds.
Almost never. It belongs to informal, descriptive, or literary registers where vivid imagery is prioritized over formal precision.
An onomatopoeic phrase representing a repetitive, metallic, jangling sound, especially of chains, loose machinery, or dishes.
Clinkety-clank: in British English it is pronounced /ˌklɪŋkəti ˈklæŋk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌklɪŋkədi ˈklæŋk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “From the clinkety-clank of coins to the rustle of notes (metaphor for wealth in various forms)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the sound an old, loose bicycle makes as it goes over cobblestones: CLINK-ety-CLANK, CLINK-ety-CLANK.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOUND IS PHYSICAL IMPACT / MECHANICAL FAILURE IS DISSONANT NOISE
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'clinkety-clank' be LEAST appropriate?