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Glite Dictionary
🔪 To split a bird ✏️ To insert awkwardly 🍗 A split chicken
to spatchcock

to spatchcock

9.9
To put extra words into a sentence in an awkward way
  • verb
  • /ˈspæʧˌkɒk/
  • Literature
translation icon : intercalar
  • The author decided to spatchcock a few extra jokes into the final draft of the novel.

Examples

  • He decided to spatchcock the essay with some extra details.

  • Trying to spatchcock an explanation into his report made it sound less convincing.

  • She spatchcocked several unnecessary comments into the middle of the discussion.

  • I often spatchcock my writing when I'm in a hurry.

  • The author tried to spatchcock the dialogue, making it feel rushed and disconnected.

  • In her essay, she would often spatchcock ideas together without clear transitions.

  • Some critics believe he tends to spatchcock details into his stories to fill gaps.

Synonyms

to stick in
vsto spatchcock
  • Informal
46 4.1

Quickly add a short remark into a talk or conversation

inserts words awkwardly or hurriedly rather than casually or unexpectedly
to lard
vsto spatchcock
1 7.7

To add extra details to speech or writing to make it more interesting

adds words awkwardly or hastily, not to embellish for interest
to interpolate
vsto spatchcock
  • Formal
1 9.2

Put extra words or lines into a text, often changing its original meaning

inserts words awkwardly or hastily, not to alter authenticity
to interlard
vsto spatchcock
  • Archaic
9.9

To interrupt speech or writing by adding short remarks to give variety

adds words clumsily or hastily rather than to vary or decorate

Antonyms

to omit
66 3.4

Leave out something, for example a name, on purpose or by accident

How Awkward

to interpolate
  • Formal
1 9.2
to spatchcock
  • Literature
9.9
to tack on
19 4.1
to add
∞ 1.0
to slip in
19 4.4

Surface Forms

spatchcock infinitive
spatchcocked past
spatchcocked past participle
spatchcocking present participle
spatchcocks third person singular

Etymology

The word spatchcock is also used in writing; one popular idea is that, like cutting a bird open, people began to use it to mean 'stick in' or 'force in' bits of words or comments. So to spatchcock a sentence is to add extra words in a rushed, awkward way.