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doohickey

doohickey

11 9.9
A small object whose name you do not know
  • noun
  • /ˈduːhɪki/
  • Informal
translation icon : chisme (coloq.)
  • Can you pass me that doohickey over there? I need it for the repair.
  • little doohickey

By the way, these are the new stainless steel true lean tumblers, and they have this really awesome little doohickey in it.

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Examples

  • I found a useful doohickey that helps organize all my cables.

  • Maroon 5 is synonymous with mass-producing disposable pop-song doohickeys like "One More Night" that can top the charts in an efficient and inoffensive manner.

    Blog text (21)
  • Oh, now I have this little doohickey and that little doohickey.

  • I need this little doohickey to sit there.

  • With the little string and the paper doohickey at the end...

  • MAN: Hey, what's that doohickey?

  • You can't breathe without that doohickey, can you?

  • This doohickey sends the prints to a crime database.

  • What is this doohickey?

  • What's this doohickey?

Synonyms

thingy
vsdoohickey
  • Informal
75 8.4

An informal word for an object when you forget its name

is more neutral and can name gadgets as well as random objects
widget
vsdoohickey
59 5.1

A small useful thing or tool for a particular job

is less example-focused and fits any unnamed object in speech
gizmo
vsdoohickey
  • Informal
56 7.1

A small device or tool whose name you do not know

is broader, used for any unnamed object not only small devices
doodad
vsdoohickey
  • Informal
7 8.7

A small thing or device whose name you do not know

is wider, used for any unnamed item, not strictly small gadgets
dingus
vsdoohickey
  • Slang
7 9.6

An informal word for an object or person whose name you cannot remember

is more object-focused and less commonly used for people
whatchamacallit
vsdoohickey
  • Informal
7 9.9

A word for an object whose name you do not know

is more playful and often names small physical gadgets too
thingie
vsdoohickey
  • Informal
6 9.2

A simple word for an object you cannot remember the name of

is slightly more likely used for small gadgets or mechanical items
gimmick
vsdoohickey
  • Informal
6 5.6

A small object whose name you cannot remember

is less suggestive of novelty or trick and more general in use
thingamajig
vsdoohickey
  • Informal
5 9.9

A word people use for a person or object when they forget its name

is narrower, usually for objects rather than referring to people
thingamabob
vsdoohickey
  • Informal
5 9.6

A thing whose name you do not know or remember

is used more broadly for everyday unnamed objects and gadgets
wingding
vsdoohickey
  • Informal
1 8.9

A small object whose name you do not know

is more neutral and used for simple unnamed everyday items
whatsis
vsdoohickey
  • Informal
1 9.9

A thing whose name you cannot remember

is more likely to point to small gadgets rather than any thing
hootenanny
vsdoohickey
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A small tool or object you forget the name of

is more common in everyday speech for simple unnamed items
gismo
vsdoohickey
  • UK
8.5

A small device you do not know the name of

is more general, applying to any unnamed object beyond gadgets
thingumajig
vsdoohickey
  • Informal
9.9

A small object whose name you do not know

is slightly more gadget-focused than this general unspecified usage
thingumabob
vsdoohickey
  • Informal
9.9

An object whose name you don't know or have forgotten

is more casual and widely used for many unnamed items
thingmajig
vsdoohickey
  • Informal
9.9

An object whose name you do not know or have forgotten

is broader, often used casually for any unnamed object, not only devices
thingummy
vsdoohickey
  • Informal
9.9

A word for a person or thing whose name you cannot remember

is more object-focused and used especially for small gadgets
whatchamacallum
vsdoohickey
  • UK
9.9

A word for something whose name you cannot remember

is more casual and frequently used for simple gadgets or tools
dojigger
vsdoohickey
  • Informal
9.9

A small object used when you do not know its name

is more general and commonly used for everyday unnamed items
gubbins
vsdoohickey
  • UK
9.9

Small things you do not know the name of or need

is focused on single unnamed objects rather than groups of items
thinginess
vsdoohickey
  • Informal
9.9

A word used for an object when you forget its name

is more standard and used broadly for unnamed gadgets and things

How Formal

apparatus
45 6.1
device
2.1
gadget
142 2.9
doohickey
  • Informal
11 9.9
thingy
  • Informal
75 8.4

Surface Forms

doohickey singular
doohickeys plural

Etymology

Doohickey is a playful, nonsense name likely mixed from words like doodad and hickey, both used for small tools or gadgets. So calling something a doohickey is an easy way to say 'that little gadget' when you don't know or forget the real name.