clippy
Microsoft's animated helper
Clippy was Microsoft's animated paperclip assistant that appeared in Office software from 1997 to 2007, popping up with unsolicited help: It looks like you're writing a letter. Would you like help?
The character became a symbol of intrusive, unwanted software assistance, so thoroughly mocked that Microsoft eventually retired it.
Clippy now serves as shorthand for any overeager automated helper that interrupts rather than assists.
Role of authority
- assistantOne who aids another
- paperclipWire loop for pages
- animatedFull of life, or drawn moving
- helperOne who aids another
97 · annoying · popup · tip · suggestion · nostalgia · interface · mascot
Wire loop for pages
- attachmentConnection or fondness
- binderDevice securing loose pages
- claspSecuring device that clicks
- fastenerSecures things together
metal · wire · bulldog · spring · clamp · holder · document · organize
Office
Role of authority
helper · 97 · annoying · popup · tip · suggestion · nostalgia · interface · mascot · deprecated
paperclip
Wire loop for pages
- attachmentConnection or fondness
- binderDevice securing loose pages
- claspSecuring device that clicks
fastener · metal · wire · bulldog · spring · clamp · holder · document · organize · stationery
distortion
Twisting from original state
waveform · audio · recording · DAW · compression · headroom · normalize · redline · saturation · gain
clippyunobtrusive
Not readily noticed
useful · indispensable · lifesaver · intuitive · user-friendly
clippyunobtrusive
Not readily noticed
subtle · unintrusive · discreet · background process · opt-in
- paper clipWire loop for binding sheets
- hair clipDevice securing hair sections
- nail clippersTool for trimming keratin
- hedge clipperTool for trimming bushes
- video clipsBrief recorded segments
- bulldog clipsSpring-loaded paper clamps
clip, clips, clipped, clipping, clippings, clipper, clippers