clippies
clippies
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "clippies" is /ˈklɪpiz/.
klip: /klɪp/ - the "kl" sound as in "club," the short "i" as in "it," and the "p" sound as in "pat."
iz: /iz/ - the short "i" as in "it," followed by the "z" sound as in "zoo."
Word Form Variations
Singular: clippy
Plural: clippies
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A person who collects tickets on a bus or train. This is a British English term, and it's often used informally.
Synonyms: conductor, ticket collector, ticket inspector, guard (UK)
Antonyms: passenger, commuter, traveler
A small, often decorative, hair accessory that clips onto the hair. This is a more modern and informal usage, especially among younger people.
Synonyms: barrette, hairpin, hair clip, bobby pin
Antonyms: (There are no direct antonyms for this usage, as it refers to a specific type of object.)
A piece of paper or other material that has been cut from a larger source, such as a newspaper or magazine. This usage is less common and is often seen as a diminutive or informal version of "clipping."
Synonyms: clipping, cutout, snippet, excerpt
Antonyms: whole, original, entire document
Examples of Use
In a historical article about London's public transport system, the author might write: "During the war, many women served as bus clippies, taking over roles previously held by men who had gone off to fight."
A person on social media might post a picture of their new hairstyle with the caption: "Obsessed with these new butterfly clippies I found! They're so Y2K."
In a novel set in the 1960s, a character might grumble about the strict rules on their bus, saying to a friend, "The clippy wouldn't even let me on until I found the exact change."
A parenting blog might have a post titled, "10 Fun and Easy Hairstyles for Toddlers," with a bullet point that reads, "Use a pair of colorful clippies to hold back a small section of hair on either side of the face."
A British television show might feature a character who works as a bus conductor, with other characters referring to her affectionately as "the clippy."
An online forum for collectors of vintage memorabilia might have a thread titled, "Show off your 'clippies' from old magazines," where users share articles and images they've cut out and saved over the years.
10 Famous Quotes Using Clippies
"Hey there," the steely abomination said with infinite, Buddha-like compassion, "it looks like you're trying to come to grips with the existence of events and entities far beyond your experience... Would you like help?" (Catherynne M. Valente, Space Opera)
"I tried to find a bunch of funny old jokes about bus clippies but they were all terrible, full of puns and very little humour." (Ben Aaronovitch, A Rivers of London Omnibus)
"I don't have enough little clippies to hold all my papers together."
"They say clippies were the backbone of the bus routes during the war."
"My daughter wanted some hair clippies with tiny plastic flamingos on them."
"That new girl on the team is a real clippy—always nitpicking every detail."
"I remember the old double-decker buses and the clippies with their bags and machines."
"Could you pass me the clippies? I need to secure this bundle of photos."
"Looks like you're writing a ransom note. Need help?" (Demetri Martin)
"My grandmother used to collect clippies from old newspapers and keep them in a scrapbook."
Etymology
The word "clippy" (and its plural, "clippies") is an example of a diminutive, a word that has been shortened or made to sound more familiar and affectionate. It comes from the verb "to clip," which has a long history.
The verb "to clip" dates back to Old English, from the word clyppan, which meant "to clasp, embrace, or hold." This is why a "hair clip" is something that holds your hair, and a "paper clip" is something that holds papers together. The meaning of "to cut with shears" came later, around the 1300s, from a different Old Norse root. Both senses of "to clip"—to hold and to cut—have influenced the word "clippy."
The use of "clippy" to mean a bus or train conductor is particularly interesting. It originated in Britain in the early 20th century. A conductor's job was to "clip" or punch holes in the tickets to validate them. They also often carried a small, metal ticket punch that made a "clip" sound, and they were given a "ticket clip" to hold the tickets. Because of this, the conductors themselves were nicknamed "clippies." The term became especially popular during World War I and II, when many women took on these roles, and the name was a friendly, informal way to refer to them.
The other main use of "clippy" to mean a hair accessory is a more modern, informal use. It comes from the simple fact that these objects "clip" into your hair. It's a way of taking the verb "to clip" and turning it into a noun to describe the thing that does the clipping.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Clippies
"A bunch of clippies" (referring to hair accessories or paper cutouts).
"Working the clippy" (slang for a bus conductor's job).
"Putting the clippy in" (putting a hair clip in).
"Getting a bit clippy with the scissors" (getting a bit over-eager with the scissors).
"A real clippy for details" (meaning someone who is very particular, similar to "a stickler for details").
"Playing clippy with the bus tickets" (a playful way of describing someone acting like a ticket inspector).
"He's all hair clippies and bows" (describing someone who is very girly or flamboyant, often in a playful or slightly derogatory way).
"Snapping the clippy shut" (referring to the sound of a hair clip closing).
"Giving a clippy a punch" (referring to punching a hole in a ticket, or playfully punching a ticket inspector).
"A clippy personality" (a rare idiom that could mean someone with a sharp, abrupt, or "clipping" manner of speaking).
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of clippies from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
