clothes prop: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Domestic
Quick answer
What does “clothes prop” mean?
A long pole or rod used to support a clothes line to prevent sagging when the line is weighed down with wet washing.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A long pole or rod used to support a clothes line to prevent sagging when the line is weighed down with wet washing.
A supporting structure or tool for holding up a washing line. Occasionally used metaphorically to refer to a supportive person or object that holds things up.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is far more common in British and Commonwealth English. In American English, functionally similar items exist but are more likely to be called 'clothesline poles', 'laundry props', 'clothesline props', or simply described as 'something to hold up the line'. The specific term 'clothes prop' is very rare in American usage.
Connotations
Connotes traditional, outdoor domestic chores and possibly rural or suburban living. In the UK, it carries a modest, practical, and slightly old-fashioned association.
Frequency
Infrequent in contemporary discourse in all dialects, as tumble dryers and indoor airers have become more common. It remains in use among those who regularly dry clothes outdoors.
Grammar
How to Use “clothes prop” in a Sentence
to use [a clothes prop]to prop up [the line] with [a clothes prop]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clothes prop” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- You'll need to clothes-prop the line before hanging the heavy sheets.
- I'm just going to prop the washing line.
American English
- You need to prop up the clothesline with that pole.
adjective
British English
- The clothes-prop bracket was rusty.
- She bought a new clothes-prop holder.
American English
- The clothesline pole was sturdy.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Used in domestic contexts, primarily among older generations or in households without a dryer.
Technical
Not used; an item of domestic equipment.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clothes prop”
- Confusing 'prop' with 'propeller'. Spelling as one word 'clothesprop'. Using it to refer to an indoor clothes horse or airer.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is typically written as two separate words: 'clothes prop'. Sometimes it is hyphenated as 'clothes-prop', especially when used as a compound modifier (e.g., a clothes-prop stick).
Yes, they are still sold in hardware stores, garden centres, and online retailers in the UK and other countries where line-drying is common. They are often made of wood, aluminium, or plastic.
The washing line (or clothesline) is the rope or wire on which you hang the washing. The clothes prop is the separate pole used to lift and support that line when it is heavy.
The specific term 'clothes prop' is very rare in American English. Americans are more likely to refer to the object descriptively as a 'pole for the clothesline' or simply not have a specific name for it, as outdoor line-drying is less universally common.
A long pole or rod used to support a clothes line to prevent sagging when the line is weighed down with wet washing.
Clothes prop is usually informal, domestic in register.
Clothes prop: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkləʊðz prɒp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkloʊðz prɑːp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As useful as a chocolate clothes prop (humorous, implying uselessness)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a PROP in a play, but this one is specifically for holding up CLOTHES on a line.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUPPORT IS HOLDING UP (The prop holds up the line as a supporter holds up a cause).
Practice
Quiz
In which situation would you most likely need a 'clothes prop'?