real clanker
- noun
- Slang
:
cacharro
- That old car is a real clanker.
Examples
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My neighbor drives a real clanker that rattles every time it starts.
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I can't believe you still drive that real clanker!
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Despite the fancy paint job, it's actually a real clanker under the hood.
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She was embarrassed to show up in such a real clanker at the reunion.
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My neighbor drives a real clanker that rattles every time it starts.
-
Despite the fancy paint job, it's actually a real clanker under the hood.
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She was embarrassed to show up in such a real clanker at the reunion.
Synonyms
43
7.0
An old car that does not work well and is in bad shape
4
6.1
An old car in bad condition that often breaks down
3
5.2
An old car that is worn out and often breaks down
3
8.1
A vehicle that is old, noisy and often breaks down
2
8.9
An old car or truck that is noisy but still works
1
9.1
A thing that makes a loud metal clanking sound
An old car that often breaks down and does not work well
An old car that often breaks down because it is not well looked after
An old, uncomfortable vehicle like a car or bicycle that shakes on bumpy roads
How Run-down
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is largely compositional: 'clanker' denotes something that clanks (a noisy object) and 'real' intensifies, so a B1 learner who knows both words will likely infer 'a very noisy/old thing,' plausibly a car. However, the conventionalized colloquial sense that it specifically refers to an old, unreliable vehicle that frequently breaks down is an extra pragmatic extension (slang usage) not fully predictable from the parts, so full meaning may require exposure.
Etymology
Real clanker comes from the loud metal sound clank that old cars make when they rattle and break down. So, calling a car a real clanker means it is 'old and unreliable' and likely to make noise or stop working.