car clout
- noun
:
prestigio automovilístico
- She bought a luxury SUV to boost her car clout among her coworkers.
Examples
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In some circles, the kind of vehicle you own determines your level of car clout.
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Many people believe that car clout can open doors in business.
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Driving a brand-new sports car gave him instant car clout in his neighborhood.
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Having a luxury vehicle gives you serious car clout.
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Driving a brand-new sports car gave him instant car clout in his neighborhood.
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In some circles, the kind of vehicle you own determines your level of car clout.
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She bought a luxury SUV to boost her car clout among her coworkers.
Synonyms
73
5.3
Power and influence in business or politics
62
5.1
High respect and admiration that people give for success or power
30
9.2
Respect and trust from a group because someone seems fashionable, skilled or real
11
8.8
Respect from young people in a city for being real and stylish
11
8.7
A sign that makes someone or something seem more respected and important
3
4.4
A position of respect and importance in society or at work
2
4.3
A respected place in a group because people admire you
A quality of being respected and admired because of success, power, or money
How Prestigious
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase transparently combines 'car' (a vehicle) with 'clout' (influence), so the meaning — influence or prestige gained from the type of car someone owns — is directly derivable from its parts. This straightforward noun+noun compositional pattern is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the intended sense.
Etymology
Car clout may come from the simple image of a showy car giving someone social clout: people notice the car and give the owner extra respect or attention. That's why car clout means the 'influence' or 'status' you get from the car you own.