when you forgot how to call a thing.

[Boris Tatarenko]

Hello.

In Russian we have an especial expression that we use when we forgot a name of the thing.


For example, I don't remeber it's a key. How can I say a sentence like this: "Can you give me a, oh what we call it, key, yes, a key"?

Probably you don't have such an expression in English. In Russian it's quite common.

I hope I described my question well. :-D
Thanks in advance.

 

[charliedeut]

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/whatchamacallit

I have also read other variants (I believe the last time it was in a novel by James Patterson), such as "whaddyacallit", "whatchacallit" and the like. All, of course, in informal dialogues/conversations.

 

[JMurray]

not a teacher

In Russian we have an especial expression that we use when we forgot a name of the thing.

In English it's often a "whatchamacallit".

"I can't find the whatchamacallit… the door key."

Sometimes "whatsit", "thingummy", "thingy" etc.

 

[emsr2d2]

In BrE, it's a thingamajig, thingummyjig, thingummy, doobr(e)y, whatsit. A friend of mine inexplicably uses the word "badger" when she can't think of the right word.

 

[JMurray]

not a teacher

I often hear "whosie-whatsit" (hoozie-wotzit).
I think this is largely Aust/NZ.

 

[SoothingDave]

"Doohickey" is another term.

 

[Boris Tatarenko]

Thank you very much for your replies, but I have no idea how to pronounce them. :-D
Well, I'll try to find their pronunciation.