Comments on: What’s That Thingummy?

By: Dave Starr

Dave Starr — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 09:33:34 +0000

I’m an American who lives in the Philippines, where the the English is really a heady brew of many of the world’s “flavors” of English, Singaporean, Hong Kong, the sub-flavors of Oz and Kiwi land, the Queen’s own, and, of course, American English fueled by 90-odd years of American rule plus an insatiable demand for American TV and cinema.

My wife’s family (mostly girls born in the 1960′s or 70′s once commonly used the word “kwan” in any place “wotsit” or “thingamabob” might fit. On your way back from the kitchen, bring me the, the … kwan, will you please?” It may have Chinese origins, but I don’t really know.

As with some of the OED examples illustrated, it was also commonly used to substitute for explicit words in overly polite conversation, leading to one of their favorite school girl cinema jokes,

“What’s at the movies tonight?”

“William’s Holding Nancy’s Kwan”.

By: mand

mand — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:28:33 +0000

And the Wotsit’s playground popularity hasn’t declined!

By: Precise Edit

Precise Edit — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 23:17:37 +0000

I like “thingamahootchie,” which can be adapted for specific purposes.

Example 1: stick-amahootchie = Flash drive, stick drive, thumb drive (you know, the thing you STICK in the side of your computer)

Example 2: slice-amahootchie = the special cutting tool that help you cut coupons and SLICE pieces from a roll of wrapping paper.

By: mand

mand — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 13:50:27 +0000

Ooh! My mum says ‘oojameflip’ as well! ;0)

By: Tony Hearn

Tony Hearn — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 20:56:34 +0000

Here in the UK my best friend of 50 years standing uses ‘doobry’. My mother prefers ‘whatjacallit’. My mother-in-law: ‘thingmebob’. My wife – a Terry Pratchet fan- uses ‘wassname’. The offspring use ‘wassname, ‘watsit’, ‘thingmy’. One of my favourites is ‘oojameflip’.