Boston local language

What does “clicker” mean?

A television remote control. Learn its pronunciation, local context, realistic examples, and when a more neutral phrase is safer.

Meaning and local context

clicker means A television remote control. in Boston local language. A well-known New England household regionalism.

How it is used

Pass the clicker means pass the remote. One example is “Where is the clicker?”, which corresponds to “Where is the television remote?” in plain English.

Example interpretation

A second example is “Pass me the clicker.”, where the same local sense is expressed as “Pass me the remote control.”. Reading both examples together helps distinguish this regional meaning from other possible readings of the word or phrase.

Tone and register

It can also mean other clicking devices outside this context. This caution is part of understanding “clicker”: the definition tells you what it means, while the surrounding situation and tone help you judge whether using it yourself is appropriate.

Pronunciation
KLIK-er
Register
Informal regional speech
Place
Boston

Examples in conversation

Where is the clicker?

Where is the television remote?

Pass me the clicker.

Pass me the remote control.

Explore more Boston terms

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