plumber's snake
1
5.2
- noun
- /ˈplʌmbərz sneɪk/
- US
:
serpiente de fontanero
- The plumber used a plumber's snake to clear the clogged drain quickly.
Examples
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After several failed attempts with a plunger, he resorted to a plumber's snake.
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The plumber's snake successfully removed the clog from the kitchen sink drain.
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A plumber's snake is essential for tackling stubborn blockages in household pipes.
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He used a plumber's snake to unclog the sink.
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The plumber's snake was essential for fixing the blockage.
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With the plumber's snake in hand, he felt confident he could fix the plumbing issue himself.
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When the sink started draining slowly, she decided to buy a plumber's snake for maintenance.
Synonyms
103
5.4
A long thin tool used to clear clogs in pipes
18
2.8
A tool with a handle and rubber cup used to clear clogs in drains
1
8.2
A long flexible metal tool for clearing blockages in curved pipes
A tool with a long flexible wire that clears blockages in drains
A plumbing tool with a long flexible shaft and a crank handle used to clear toilet clogs
How Powerful
Surface Forms
Morphology
plumber's + snake
The compound signals a plumber-related object (plumber's) and uses 'snake' metaphorically for a long, flexible tool; a learner who knows both words can plausibly infer it is a flexible device used by plumbers to clear pipes. However the use of 'snake' to name a tool is a metaphorical extension rather than a strictly compositional meaning, so full interpretation may require contextual clue or prior exposure.
Etymology
Plumber's snake comes from how the tool looks and moves: a long, flexible metal wire that goes into pipes like a snake to reach and pull out clogs. That's why the phrase means 'a tool plumbers use to clear blockages'.