clever clogs
A light-hearted or humorous way to refer to an intelligent or clever person. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. He's such a clever clogs. There is no question he can't answer. Of course Ellen is our valedictorian—she's always been a clever clogs. Judy's such a clever clogs. She solved the puzzle in 30 seconds.
clog (something) with (something)
To obstruct something with something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "clog" and "up." This cold has clogged my nose with so much mucus that I can hardly breathe. One of the kids clogged the pipes with action figures. Ew, who clogged the drain with all this gunk?
clog up
1. To obstruct. A noun or pronoun can be used between "clog" and "up." This cold is clogging up my nose and I can hardly breathe. Yuck! There's a wad of hair clogging the drain up! Cold air isn't coming out? Hmm, maybe dust clogged up the ductwork.
2. To become obstructed or filled up such that nothing can get through. Honey, where's the plunger? The toilet clogged up again. If the gutter clogs up, you're going to have a bunch of dirty water start spilling down onto your driveway. Is the drain clogged up? That would explain why it's taking so long for all the water to go down.
3. To make constipated. A noun or pronoun can be used between "clog" and "up." That type of food always clogs me up—I was constipated for days the last time I ate it. Eating so much rice during my time in Japan really clogged me up. You mentioned that you've been clogged up lately. I'm going to prescribe a mild laxative for now, but you really ought to be eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
clogs to clogs in three generations
proverb The idea that a family can escape poverty for a time but then become impoverished again, all in the span of three generations. Primarily heard in UK. With the way you're spending our family's money, we'll be clogs to clogs in three generations! The nouveau riche never can hang on to their money, can they? They're clogs to clogs in three generations—usually less. Things are pretty bad now that my husband and I have both lost our jobs, but I refuse to squander the progress our parents made. We will not be clogs to clogs in three generations!
pop (one's) clogs
To die. Primarily heard in UK. A friend of mine is convinced he's going to pop his clogs whenever he feels the slightest bit unwell.
snake a/the drain
To clear a clogged drain using a long, flexible auger (commonly called a "drain snake" or "plumber's snake"). It made me sick paying so much for a plumber to come clear the blockage. I'm just going to buy an auger so I can snake the drain myself next time! You can only snake a drain yourself if the clog is relatively minor. Otherwise, you're better off calling a professional to do it.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
clog someone up
[for some kind of food] to constipate someone. This cheese clogs me up. I can't eat it. This food clogs up people who eat it.
clog something up
[for something] to obstruct a channel or conduit. The leaves clogged the gutters up. They clogged up the gutter.
clog something with something
to block or obstruct a channel or conduit with something. The neighbors clogged the creek with their brush and leaves. Please don't clog the drain with garbage.
clog up
[for a channel or conduit] to become blocked. The canal clogged up with leaves and mud.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
pop your clogs
BRITISH, INFORMALIf someone pops their clogs, they die. He popped his clogs halfway through the performance. Note: This expression is used to refer to someone's death in a light-hearted or humorous way. Note: This expression may refer to an old sense of `pop', meaning to pawn something (= borrow some money in return for a valuable object that you leave with the lender. The lender can sell the object if you do not pay the money back). Clogs used to be the normal footwear of people such as mill workers, especially in the north of England.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
clogs to clogs in three generations
the return of a family to poverty after one generation of prosperity.pop your clogs
die. British informal The expression, which is first recorded in 1970 , probably comes from the idea of ‘popping’ (i.e. pawning) a person's clogs after they have died (and therefore have no further use for them). It may well also have been influenced, though, by the colloquial pop off meaning ‘die’, which dates back to the mid 18th century.
1998 Oldie We cannot claim any credit for foreseeing that Enoch was about to pop his clogs.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
pop your ˈclogs
(British English, humorous) die: I haven’t seen you for so long I thought you’d popped your clogs!Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
clog up
v.1. To obstruct some passageway: The fallen leaves clogged up the drainpipe. The sediment clogged the pipe up.
2. To cause something to become obstructed: I clogged up the sink with some leftover food. This nagging cold has clogged my sinuses up.
3. To become obstructed: Call the plumber; the toilet clogged up again.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.