to clap on

7.2

To put a quick layer of something like sunscreen or paint on without care

phrasal verb

: aplicar

He clapped on a coat of wax to protect the surface of the table.

Examples

After the last layer dried, she clapped on a finishing seal for extra shine.
On the road, the man clapped on his hat, and inside, Tate watched him.

Fiction book (1995)
She clapped on the paint too quickly, leaving streaks on the wall.

Synonyms

to slap on

vsto clap on

Informal

6 4.5

Put on paint or cream quickly and without care

applies quickly and carelessly to any surface, not only for substances

to clap

vsto clap on

Informal

3 3.0

To put someone or something down quickly and forcefully

involves quick careless spreading of a substance onto a surface rather than mere placement

to splash some paint

vsto clap on

Informal

1 4.2

Put paint on a surface quickly without trying to be exact

covers quick careless spreading of any substance, not only paint

to brush on

vsto clap on

1 3.8

To put a liquid or soft substance on a surface with a brush

is applied quickly and carelessly by hitting or pressing a substance onto surfaces

Antonyms

to remove

∞ 1.5

To move something or someone away from a place

to peel off

8 3.4

To take off the outer layer by pulling it

How Carefully

to brush on

1 3.8

to apply

263 1.3

to clap on

7.2

Surface Forms

clap on infinitive

clapped on past

clapped on past participle

clapping on present participle

claps on third person singular

Morphology

clap + on

The meaning can largely be inferred from 'clap' (to slap or put something down quickly) + 'on' (onto a surface), so a learner who knows the constituents could guess it means to slap or apply something onto a surface. However, the specialized use of 'clap' meaning 'apply by slapping' is less common and the nuance of doing so quickly or carelessly is partly pragmatic, so the sense is not fully predictable without exposure.

Etymology

Clap on may come from the picture of quickly using your hand to clap something on — like slapping sunscreen, makeup, or a thin coat of paint onto skin or a wall. That's why it means 'to put something on quickly or carelessly'.