what-do-you-call-it: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Informal, Colloquial
Quick answer
What does “what-do-you-call-it” mean?
A placeholder term used when one cannot recall or does not know the specific name of something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A placeholder term used when one cannot recall or does not know the specific name of something.
A noun or noun phrase used as a temporary substitute for a forgotten or unknown term, often indicating a physical object, gadget, or concept.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both variants use the term identically. The hyphenated form is standard in writing for both. There is no significant syntactic or semantic divergence.
Connotations
Equally informal in both dialects. Slightly more associated with older or middle-aged speech in some analyses, but still broadly used.
Frequency
Common in spoken language in both regions. Frequency is comparable, though possibly slightly higher in British English due to a greater prevalence of similar placeholder terms (e.g., 'thingummy').
Grammar
How to Use “what-do-you-call-it” in a Sentence
SUBJ + VERB + the what-do-you-call-itPASS me the what-do-you-call-itIt's a what-do-you-call-it for VERB+ingVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in very informal internal discussions. 'We need to update the what-do-you-call-it on the shared drive.'
Academic
Virtually never used in formal writing. May appear in spoken, informal seminar discussions.
Everyday
Primary context of use. Common in domestic, social, and casual conversational settings when referring to objects.
Technical
Not used. Technical fields require precise terminology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “what-do-you-call-it”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “what-do-you-call-it”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “what-do-you-call-it”
- Using it in formal writing.
- Treating it as a question syntactically (e.g., 'What do you call it is on the table?').
- Overusing it instead of learning the specific vocabulary.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when used as a noun placeholder, it is standard to write it with hyphens: 'what-do-you-call-it'. The unhyphenated form is a question.
Yes, though less common. The plural is 'what-do-you-call-its', as in 'I've got a drawer full of what-do-you-call-its'.
It is informal but not inherently rude. In a context where precise terminology is expected (e.g., a technical briefing), overuse could be perceived as unprofessional.
They are near synonyms. 'What-do-you-call-it' is more directly derived from the forgotten question. 'Thingamajig' might be considered slightly more playful or dated. Usage is largely a matter of personal or regional preference.
A placeholder term used when one cannot recall or does not know the specific name of something.
What-do-you-call-it is usually informal, colloquial in register.
What-do-you-call-it: in British English it is pronounced /ˌwɒt də jə ˈkɔːl ɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌwʌt də jə ˈkɔːl ɪt/ (or /ˌwɑːt də jə ˈkɑːl ɪt/). Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember it as a question turned into a noun: 'What do you call it?' when you can't remember what to call it.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS A TOOL (and this is a temporary, makeshift tool).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'what-do-you-call-it' LEAST appropriate?