drop a clanger

verb

To commit a conspicuous and embarrassing blunder or gaffe, for example by saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.

“I dropped a clanger when I mentioned how well Mary's mother had been looking recently. I didn't know that she died two days ago.”

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

verbdrop a clanger (third-person singular simple present drops a clanger, present participle dropping a clanger, simple past and past participle dropped a clanger)

present singular third person drops a clanger · participle present dropping a clanger · participle past dropped a clanger · past dropped a clanger

  1. informalTo commit a conspicuous and embarrassing blunder or gaffe, for example by saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.

    I dropped a clanger when I mentioned how well Mary's mother had been looking recently. I didn't know that she died two days ago.

Cite this entry
APA

drop a clanger. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/drop%20a%20clanger

MLA

“drop a clanger.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/drop%20a%20clanger. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “drop a clanger,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/drop%20a%20clanger.

Source: drop a clanger on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.