clunker
Barely running car
A clunker is an old, unreliable machine—typically a car in poor condition: He drove that clunker until the engine finally gave out.
The term extends to anything that fails or performs badly: a joke that doesn't land, a movie that bombs, a line of dialogue that thuds.
The word suggests something heavy, graceless, and past its usefulness.
Dilapidated old vehicle
- beaterTool for mixing
- rustbucketDilapidated metal vehicle
- heapJumbled collection of items
- wreckDestroyed vessel or vehicle
lemon · junker · old-timer · gas-guzzler · banger · hooptie · rattletrap · bucket
Complete commercial failure
- dudFailed device or effort
- bombExplosive device or disaster
- turkeyWattled North American fowl
- bustFailure or sculpture
stinker · loser · disaster · fiasco · debacle · disappointment · miss · washout
Shaking sound maker
- clankSharp metallic sound
- clatterLoud rattling noise
- sputterEmit irregular popping sounds
- coughExplosive airway clearing
wheeze · bang · knock · rumble · squeak · grind · backfire · ping
Quick overview of facts
weathered · beat-up · dented · rusted · corroded · rattling · smoking · sputtering
Failure or decomposition
- malfunctionFailure to operate properly
- stallingIntentional delay tactics
- overheatingBecoming dangerously warm
- temperamentalEasily upset, unpredictable
unpredictable · erratic · undependable · trouble · repairs · mechanic · tow-truck · roadside
jalopy
Dilapidated old vehicle
- beaterTool for mixing
- rustbucketDilapidated metal vehicle
- heapJumbled collection of items
wreck · lemon · junker · old-timer · gas-guzzler · banger · hooptie · rattletrap · bucket · crate
flop
Complete commercial failure
bust · stinker · loser · disaster · fiasco · debacle · disappointment · miss · washout · botch
rattle
Shaking sound maker
cough · wheeze · bang · knock · rumble · squeak · grind · backfire · ping · thunk
rundown
Quick overview of facts
battered · weathered · beat-up · dented · rusted · corroded · rattling · smoking · sputtering · leaking
breakdown
Failure or decomposition
- malfunctionFailure to operate properly
- stallingIntentional delay tactics
- overheatingBecoming dangerously warm
temperamental · unpredictable · erratic · undependable · trouble · repairs · mechanic · tow-truck · roadside · jump-start
- vehiclescar, bus, truck, van, bike
- carscar, auto, automobile, sedan, coupe
- car talkpedal to the metal, hit the gas, step on it, floor it, burn rubber
- clunkersjalopy, junker, beater, heap, rattletrap
- failuresfailure, failures, flop, flops, bust
- jokesjokes, joke, puns, one-liners, pun
clunkerluxury car
Expensive, high-end automobile
dream car · cherry · cream puff · sports car · hot rod
- clunking noise
- cash for clunkersProgram trading old vehicles for rebates