noun
dingus
DIHNG-guhs
noun
1
A gadget or object whose real name you can't remember or don't bother to use.
"Hand me that little dingus for opening jars."
"What does this dingus on the dashboard even do?"
2
An informal, often affectionate or mocking word for a foolish or clumsy person.
"Stop being a dingus and just ask her out."
How to Use Dingus
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA placeholder word for an object you can't name, or a joking insult for someone acting silly.
When to use it
Very informal, mostly spoken American English.
Common pairings
a little dingus
some kind of dingus
stop being a dingus
Word Forms
dinguses plural, Dinguses plural
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Hand me that little _____ for opening jars.
Etymology
Likely borrowed from Dutch dinges ("thingamajig") or a related Afrikaans word, with the ending reshaped to look like a Latin -us word.