What colloquial word is used when you don't remember a word but you want to use something for it?


I checked some dictionaries and found out the following words to be used for objects whose names are forgotten:



whatsis, whatchamacallit, thingummy, dohickey, dojigger, doodad, doohickey, hickey, gizmo, gismo, gubbins, thingamabob, thingumabob, thingmabob, thingamajig, thingumajig, thingmajig.



Which of these words are really used in colloquial cases? What colloquial word do native English speakers use when they don't remember a word at that moment but they still want to use a word instead of it?



Answer



I have used or heard almost all of those words used in the context of tip of the tongue name replacement.


The three I've not heard in that context are gubbins, which I have heard as a reference to a person, much the same as muggins:



And who do you think will have to clear up this mess? Gubbins, here.



hickey, which I've only heard with respect to love bites, and I've not heard dojigger at all.


One that I think is missing from that list is hoojamaflip.


I think the most used would be whatsit and thingamabob. Another alternative is just plain thing.


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