---
title: clanger — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «clanger» in the school dictionary: A clanger is a silly, embarrassing mistake, especially something you say that you should not have said. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# clanger

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** clanger, you, Dad, baby, she, Calling · **What happens:** be, say, not say, drop, mean, make · **To what, where:** silly embarrassing mistake, clanger, embarrassing mistake, something, loud clanging noise, Mrs Green · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«clanger» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [clanger in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/clanger.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: informal, UK — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A clanger is a silly, embarrassing mistake, especially something you say that you should not have said.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clanger:m1:1
# text = A clanger is a silly, embarrassing mistake, especially something you say that you should not have said.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	clanger	clanger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
5	silly	silly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	_
7	embarrassing	embarrassing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	_
11	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	8	appos	_	_
12	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
13	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	acl:relcl	_	_
14	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	19	mark	_	_
15	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
16	should	should	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	19	aux	_	_
17	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	19	advmod	_	_
18	have	have	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	19	aux	_	_
19	said	say	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	13	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a clanger | a silly embarrassing mistake |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **not** **say** *speech: assert* | should · perfect | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Drop a clanger» means to make such an embarrassing mistake.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clanger:m2:1
# text = «Drop a clanger» means to make such an embarrassing mistake.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Drop	drop	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	csubj	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	clanger	clanger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
6	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	make	make	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	_
9	such	such	DET	PDT	PronType=Ind	12	det:predet	_	_
10	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	embarrassing	embarrassing	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	mistake	mistake	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **drop** *in a quote* | infinitive |  | a clanger |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clanger=Theme |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **make** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | such embarrassing mistake |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset mistake=Product |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rarely, a clanger is something that makes a loud clanging noise, like a bell clapper.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clanger:m3:1
# text = Rarely, a clanger is something that makes a loud clanging noise, like a bell clapper.
1	Rarely	rarely	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	clanger	clanger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
6	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	0	root	_	_
7	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	8	nsubj	_	_
8	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	acl:relcl	_	_
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
10	loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
11	clanging	clanging	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	compound	_	_
12	noise	noise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
14	like	like	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	17	det	_	_
16	bell	bell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	17	compound	_	_
17	clapper	clapper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a clanger | something |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **make** | present |  | a loud clanging noise |  |  |  | like a bell clapper | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset noise=Product |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad dropped a clanger when he asked Mrs Green when her baby was due — she wasn't pregnant.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clanger:x1:1
# text = Dad dropped a clanger when he asked Mrs Green when her baby was due — she wasn't pregnant.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	dropped	drop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	clanger	clanger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	asked	ask	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	advcl	_	_
8	Mrs	Mrs	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	Green	Green	ADJ	NNP	Degree=Pos	7	obj	_	_
10	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	14	advmod	_	_
11	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	12	nmod:poss	_	_
12	baby	baby	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
13	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
14	due	due	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	7	ccomp	_	_
15	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	19	punct	_	_
16	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	19	nsubj	_	_
17	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	19	cop	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	19	advmod	_	_
19	pregnant	pregnant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **drop** | past | Dad | a clanger |  |  |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent clanger=Theme |
| 2 | **ask** *speech: ask* | past | Dad | Mrs Green |  |  |  |  | vn inquire-37.1.2 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent green=Recipient |
| 3 | **is** | past | her baby |  |  |  |  | due *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **not** **is** | past | she |  |  |  |  | pregnant *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Calling the new teacher by the old teacher's name was a bit of a clanger.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clanger:x2:1
# text = Calling the new teacher by the old teacher's name was a bit of a clanger.
1	Calling	call	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	13	csubj	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	by	by	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	's	's	PART	POS	_	8	case	_	_
10	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
11	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	bit	bit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
14	of	of	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	clanger	clanger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | gerund |  |  | the new teacher |  |  | by the old teacher's name | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent teacher=Recipient |
| 2 | **is a** | past | Calling | a bit |  |  |  | of a clanger | tree rules |
| 3 | **name** |  | the old teacher |  |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I dropped a right clanger in the quiz and said that spiders were insects.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clanger:x3:1
# text = I dropped a right clanger in the quiz and said that spiders were insects.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	dropped	drop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	clanger	clanger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	quiz	quiz	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
11	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
12	spiders	spider	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	14	nsubj	_	_
13	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	cop	_	_
14	insects	insect	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **drop** | past | I | a right clanger |  | the quiz |  |  | vn put\_direction-9.4 «NP V NP PP.destination»: agent=Agent clanger=Theme in quiz=Destination |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **is a** | past | spiders | insects |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The referee's decision was a total clanger, and everybody groaned.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clanger:x4:1
# text = The referee's decision was a total clanger, and everybody groaned.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	referee	referee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	decision	decision	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
5	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	total	total	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	clanger	clanger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
10	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
11	everybody	everybody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Tot	12	nsubj	_	_
12	groaned	groan	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the referee's decision | a total clanger |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **groan** | past | everybody | a total clanger *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn animal\_sounds-38 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent clanger=Theme |
| 3 | **decide** |  | the referee |  |  |  |  |  | nom decision «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Oops, that was a clanger — I told Mum about her surprise party.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clanger:x5:1
# text = Oops, that was a clanger — I told Mum about her surprise party.
1	Oops	oops	INTJ	UH	_	6	discourse	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	that	that	PRON	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	clanger	clanger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	—	-	PUNCT	:	_	9	punct	_	_
8	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	told	tell	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
10	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	iobj	_	_
11	about	about	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	14	nmod:poss	_	_
13	surprise	surprise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	compound	_	_
14	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | that | a clanger |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **tell** *speech: assert* | past | I |  | Mum |  |  | about her surprise party | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent mum=Recipient about party=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The goalkeeper's clanger let in an easy goal.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clanger:x6:1
# text = The goalkeeper's clanger let in an easy goal.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	goalkeeper	goalkeeper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	clanger	clanger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
5	let	let	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	easy	easy	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	goal	goal	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **let** | past | the goalkeeper's clanger |  |  | a easy goal |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V PP.recipient»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **clang** |  | the goalkeeper |  |  |  |  |  | nom clanger «act transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The old bell's iron clanger was rusty.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:clanger:x7:1
# text = The old bell's iron clanger was rusty.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	bell	bell	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	's	's	PART	POS	_	3	case	_	_
5	iron	iron	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	clanger	clanger	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
7	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
8	rusty	rusty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | past | the old bell's iron clanger |  |  |  |  | rusty *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **clang** |  |  | the old bell |  |  |  |  | nom clanger «act transitive»: poss=patient |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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