clunker

/ˈklʌŋkə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈklʌŋkər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkləŋ-kər/ (ame, mw)

clunker — noun

  • clunkersingular
  • clunkersplural

1. a car, truck, or other machine that is worn out and no longer works well

1.名詞B2
釋義

a car, truck, or other machine that is worn out and no longer works well

例句

Emeka bought a clunker for 400 dollars and it broke down the next day.

collocation: bought a clunker

The old tractor on the farm was such a clunker that no one could start it.

同義詞
  • jalopy

    old-fashioned and slightly affectionate term for a dilapidated car

  • beater

    blunt American slang for a very battered, cheap car

  • banger

    the British equivalent of clunker

  • wreck

    suggests visible damage from a crash or long neglect

用法筆記

Used in informal contexts to describe a vehicle that barely functions — not simply an old car that still runs well.

常見錯誤

❌I drive a clunker, so I take it to the garage every month for routine service.
✅I drive an old car, so I take it to the garage every month for routine service.
💡'clunker' implies the vehicle is in poor, unreliable condition; if you maintain it regularly, use 'old car' instead.

2. a person or thing that fails badly; a product, performance, or effort that turns

2.名詞B2
釋義

a person or thing that fails badly; a product, performance, or effort that turns out to be terrible

例句

Hafiz spent a year on his novel, but the first draft was a clunker.

The holiday musical turned out to be a clunker and closed after two weeks.

collocation: turned out to be a clunker

同義詞
  • flop

    most common for failed films, shows, or products

  • dud

    for anything that fails to work or deliver as expected

  • bust

    informal American term for a complete failure

  • failure

    the neutral, formal equivalent

反義詞
  • hit

    a big success, especially in entertainment

  • triumph

    a great success or victory

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 (OLD VEHICLE): this sense applies to any failed effort or poor-quality thing, not just machines or vehicles.

常見錯誤

❌The sofa she bought was such a clunker — the colour was hideous.
✅The sofa she bought was hideous.
💡'clunker' for objects describes a failed effort or poorly made item, not something that is simply ugly or in bad taste.