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What is a "thingamabob"?

Question
What is a "thingamabob"?
Answer

Question

A reader asked, "What is a thingamabob?"

Answer

Good question! Thingamabob is an informal word you can use when you can’t think of the real name for something, as shown in these two examples:

  • I can't find the thingamabob that holds the door open.
  • It’s one of those thingamabobs that can give you driving directions.

 

Here are other words that you can use the same way:

  • thingamajig
  • thingie
  • whatchamacallit
  • whatsit
  • doodad
  • doohickey

 

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