whatchamacallit

IPA/ˈwɒtʃəməkɔːlɪt/
IPA/ˈwʌtʃəməkɔːlɪt/

whatchamacallit — 名詞

  • whatchamacallitsingular
  • whatchamacallitsplural

1. an informal stand-in word for a person or thing when the real name suddenly will

1.名詞
釋義

那個叫什麼

一時想不起名稱時的稱呼

an informal stand-in word for a person or thing when the real name suddenly will not come to you

例句

Elise asked for the whatchamacallit that locks the tripod legs in place.

Elise 開口要那個能把腳架支腳固定住的那個叫什麼。

the whatchamacallit + relative clause identifying the object

Ari kept calling the new accountant whatchamacallit until someone told him her name.

Ari 一直把新來的會計叫成那個叫什麼，直到有人告訴他她的名字。

call someone whatchamacallit when a name is forgotten

常見搭配
  • the whatchamacallit
  • that whatchamacallit
  • call someone whatchamacallit
  • the whatchamacallit on/for [object]
同義詞
  • whatsit

    shorter placeholder word with almost the same meaning, often sounding less playful

  • thingy

    very casual and common in British English, often for objects rather than people

  • thingamajig

    similarly playful, usually aimed at an object whose name is missing

  • doohickey

    more strongly associated with small tools or mechanical parts

文法句型

the / a / that + whatchamacallit

call someone or something + whatchamacallit

whatchamacallit + appositive clue

用法筆記

Mostly heard in casual American speech, often when the speaker is searching out loud for a lost name. It can refer to a person or an object, but it sounds more playful and self-aware than shorter forms such as 'whatsit' or 'thingy'.

常見錯誤

Please enter the whatchamacallit number on the warranty form.
Please enter the part number on the warranty form.
use the real term in forms, manuals, and other precise writing.
The whatchamacallit with the red lid is pasta sauce.
The jar with the red lid is pasta sauce.
do not use 'whatchamacallit' when you already know the object's name.

同根字

常見搭配

常用片語

  • the whatchamacallit
  • that whatchamacallit
  • the whatchamacallit for [task]

介系詞搭配