clippety-clop: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low frequencyInformal, descriptive, often literary or journalistic
Quick answer
What does “clippety-clop” mean?
An onomatopoeic word imitating the rhythmic, hollow sound of a horse's hooves striking a hard surface like pavement or cobblestones.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An onomatopoeic word imitating the rhythmic, hollow sound of a horse's hooves striking a hard surface like pavement or cobblestones.
Used more broadly to describe any rhythmic, clacking, repetitive sound reminiscent of hoofbeats.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; equal recognisability.
Connotations
Both strongly evoke imagery of horse-drawn transport and historical settings.
Frequency
Similar low frequency in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “clippety-clop” in a Sentence
The [subject: hooves/horse] emitted a steady clippety-clop.The [sound: clippety-clop] of [source] echoed.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clippety-clop” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The carriage could be heard clippety-clopping down the cobbled mews.
American English
- The horses clippety-clopped past the town square.
adverb
British English
- The pony trotted clippety-clop along the tarmac path.
American English
- The horse went clippety-clop down the paved street.
adjective
British English
- They fell asleep to the clippety-clop rhythm of the passing dray.
American English
- The tour featured a clippety-clop horse-drawn buggy ride.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare, potentially in literary analysis or historical description.
Everyday
Used for vivid description, especially by children or in storytelling.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clippety-clop”
- Misspelling as 'clippity-clop' or 'clippety clop' (without hyphen).
- Using it to describe non-repetitive or non-hollow sounds.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a recognised onomatopoeic word in English dictionaries, classified as a reduplicative compound, used to vividly represent a specific sound.
'Clippety-clop' is more elaborate and evocative, often suggesting a lighter, faster, or more playful rhythm. 'Clip-clop' is the more standard, shorter form.
Yes, but only figuratively or humorously for any similar rhythmic, clacking sound (e.g., high heels on a hard floor, a repetitive mechanical noise), always drawing a direct analogy to the sound of hooves.
It functions as a verb informally, meaning 'to make a clippety-clop sound'. Example: 'The pony clippety-clopped down the lane.'
An onomatopoeic word imitating the rhythmic, hollow sound of a horse's hooves striking a hard surface like pavement or cobblestones.
Clippety-clop is usually informal, descriptive, often literary or journalistic in register.
Clippety-clop: in British English it is pronounced /ˌklɪp.ɪ.ti ˈklɒp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌklɪp.ɪ.t̬i ˈklɑːp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not applicable; the word itself is inherently descriptive and onomatopoeic.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CLIP from a film of a horse, and the CLOP its hooves make on the street: CLIP-(petty)-CLOP.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOUND IS RHYTHMIC MOTION (the sound metaphorically contains the image of the movement creating it).
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts would 'clippety-clop' be LEAST appropriate?