machin

le machin
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., l’homme, le soleil).
masculine noun
1.
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
(thing whose name one does not know or pretends not to know)
a. thing
Je t'attends sous le grand machin en bois.I'm waiting for you under the big wooden thing.
b. thingy
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Appuie sur le machin bleu et attends le bip.Press the blue thingy, and wait for the beep.
c. stuff
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Une gorgée de ce machin et j'ai la nausée toute la journée !One sip of this stuff and I'm nauseous all day!
d. thingamajig
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
J'ai fini de monter le placard, mais il reste un petit machin qui ne rentre nulle part.I've finished assembling the closet, but there's still one little thingamajig that doesn't fit anywhere.
e. thingumajig
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Tu peux me passer le machin carré à côté de toi ?Can you hand me that square thingumajig next to you?
f. thingummy
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Quand ils sont dans leur chambre, mes enfants adorent fabriquer toutes sortes de machins.When they're in their rooms, my kids love building all kinds of thingummies.
g. doodad
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Le médecin m'a donné un machin à mettre au poignet pour mesurer ma fréquence cardiaque.The doctor gave me a doodad to wear on my wrist to measure my heart rate.
h. whatsit
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Le machin qui sonne quand il y a le feu m'a réveillé en plein milieu de la nuit.The whatsit that rings when there's a fire woke me up in the middle of the night.
i. whatsis
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
J'ai trouvé ce machin dans un marché aux puces. Je sais pas à quoi ça sert, mais c'est joli.I found this whatsis at a flea market. I don't know what it's for, but it's pretty.
j. what-is-it
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Ma mère a acheté un machin qui fait des sorbets, mais elle sait pas comment l'utiliser.My mother bought some what-is-it that makes sorbets, but she doesn't know how to use it.
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