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| Dropping a Clanger? 14/08/2010 at 18:24 #1620 | |
Danny252
1461 posts |
The phrase "he dropped a clanger" seems to be fairly common in the signalling communities I'm involved in (preserved lever frames), used to describe making a major mistake - for example, putting two trains in section would be described as "dropping a clanger". However, I haven't a clue as to where the phrase came from. Is it a phrase from engineering (where a "clanger" might be a heavy bit of metal being dropped by accident?), a term for quickly dropping back a signal (which might be described as making a "clang"?), or some other origin? Log in to reply |
| Dropping a Clanger? 14/08/2010 at 18:24 #10716 | |
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Danny252
1461 posts |
The phrase "he dropped a clanger" seems to be fairly common in the signalling communities I'm involved in (preserved lever frames), used to describe making a major mistake - for example, putting two trains in section would be described as "dropping a clanger". However, I haven't a clue as to where the phrase came from. Is it a phrase from engineering (where a "clanger" might be a heavy bit of metal being dropped by accident?), a term for quickly dropping back a signal (which might be described as making a "clang"?), or some other origin? Log in to reply |
| Dropping a Clanger? 14/08/2010 at 19:15 #10717 | |
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GoodbyeMrFish
148 posts |
this was explained on the citv programme "how" years ago, this is the answer they gave. Cornish miners would take for their lunch a sort of pie; a boat-shaped pastry wrap which had meat and potatoes at one end and jam at the other. This was known as a clanger (in fact, I believe the spelling was given as clangour); and droping one would evidently result in quite a mess. Log in to reply |
| Dropping a Clanger? 14/08/2010 at 22:02 #10719 | |
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Tristan
60 posts |
AKA pastie 
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| Dropping a Clanger? 14/08/2010 at 22:25 #10720 | |
Peter Bennet
5402 posts |
Not sure about the Cornwall Clanger but what you describe sounds like a Bedfordshire Clanger- for which I have a recipe and once tried to make- it was an "interesting" experiment. http://www.cornishpasties.org.uk/otherpasties/english-pasties.htm Peter Peter I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs! Log in to reply |
| Dropping a Clanger? 15/08/2010 at 13:14 #10731 | |
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kbarber
1743 posts |
I certainly always heard it was a Bedfordshire Clanger. According to one story, there was a wedge of pastry dividing the sweet from the savoury end; dropping a clanger was likely to result in the wedge being knocked out with the result better imagined than tasted (but better by far not even imagined). BTW late 1970s/early 80's "big railway" slang used a similar phrase but with clanger substituted by another, perhaps less delicate word. (But then most of the railway slang I knew was pretty graphic and "dropping a..." was tame by comparison.) Log in to reply |
| Dropping a Clanger? 15/08/2010 at 20:38 #10744 | |
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clive
2789 posts |
Lovely fancy theories, but no hard evidence to support them. The Oxford English Dictionary (the full one) says it comes from the verb "clang", meaning to make a ringing sound. The meaning is given as: A mistake, esp. one that attracts attention; a social faux pas. Phrase: to drop a clanger, to make such a mistake, to ‘slip up’. The earliest use that the OED editors have found is: 1948 Lawrentian (St. Lawrence Coll., Ramsgate) Easter 8 Clanger. A peculiarly heavy brick... Prefects lead the way in dropping these objects. Ther is no record for either "clanger" or "clangour" used to mean a pasty. What's wrong with the obvious theory? You drop a large bit of metal and it goes "clang". Doing it and drawing unwanted attention to yourself is therefore dropping a clanger. Log in to reply |
| Dropping a Clanger? 27/08/2010 at 13:52 #11064 | |
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Osprey
35 posts |
I thought it was dropping one of those pink furry aliens! ....Ill get my coat!
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| Dropping a Clanger? 27/08/2010 at 14:00 #11065 | |
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Osprey
35 posts |
Before I do,Id heard that the dropping of a clanger was to do with a situation being quiet and quiet being the norm and someone making a gaffe and accidentally making an almighty noise upsetting the peace and quiet.Maybe to do with bell ringing??
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| Dropping a Clanger? 27/08/2010 at 15:51 #11070 | |
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AndyG
1842 posts |
I'm with Clive's answer, as I'm sure anyone who's dropped a big spanner onto a concrete floor will know.
I can only help one person a day. Today's not your day. Tomorrow doesn't look too good either. Log in to reply |
| Dropping a Clanger? 27/08/2010 at 16:23 #11071 | |
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clive
2789 posts |
Nothing to do with bell-ringing; at least, not church bells. I've done plenty and never heard the term. I'll stick with the spanner.
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