Make Your Point > Archived Issues > CLAQUE

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pronounce CLAQUE: Say it "CLACK." To hear it, click here. connect this word to others: If you're reaching for the perfect adjective for that person who always seems to be giving themselves a pat on the back or a round of applause, the one who seems to sing, "As a specimen, yes, I'm intimidating," call them s___-app____ing. And if you're reaching for the perfect noun for that group of people who always applaud for their hero, the ones who seem to sing, "Give five hurrahs, give twelve hip-hips, Gaston is the best and the rest is all drips," call them a claque. (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "CLAQUE" We probably formed the word "clap," meaning "any sharp, loud noise," from imitating the sound itself, like a clap of thunder, or the clapping of hands. The French word for "clap" is claquer, and claqueurs are people hired to clap loudly at shows. We took that term into English around 1837. Strictly speaking, claqueurs (also spelled "claquers") are people hired to clap loudly at any performance. More generally, claqueurs are people who thoughtlessly follow and applaud their leader. If you have a whole group of those people, call them a claque. In other words, a claque is a group of loyal, unthinking followers who are eager to praise and support their leader. Part of speech: Noun, the countable kind: "Here comes her claque, flooding the comments section with praise." Other forms: claques, claqueur(s) How to use it:  Use this sharp, rare, sophisticated word to label any group of adoring followers, whether they're being paid for their services or not, and whether their adoration is phony or genuine (or somewhere in between). You might use "claque" to refer to any particularly vocal group of fans, followers, employees, students, voters, team members, etc. And anyone who leads a group like that can be said to have a claque, whether it's a pop star, a YouTube star, a politician, a coach, a teacher, a manager or CEO, etc. examples: "[H. R.'s] men occupied the front row of arena seats and had been coached by the leader of the Grand Opera claque. At a given signal they were to cheer Grace Goodchild. When the bugle announced H. R.'s entrance they were to go crazy."    — Edwin Lefevre, H. R., 1915 "The evening ended with Luce describing her own political accomplishments and an underling adding... 'Yes, the Ambassador really handled that one well.' With a claque like that it is easy to see why her self-esteem floats blandly along."    — C. L Sulzberger, as quoted by Janet Maslin, New York Times, 13 July 2014 has this page helped you understand "claque"? Awesome, I'm glad it helped! Thanks for letting me know! If you have any questions about this word, please message me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. study it: Explain the meaning of "claque" without saying "group of devotees" or "adoring flock of sheep." try it out: Writing for the New York Times, Ellen Barry describes a modern-day claque at the close of a ballet performance: "At that point the dancers and the claqueurs were standing two yards apart, hanging on for just one more moment before the stage hands came to roll away the scenery. Where the love ended, and deceit began, was impossible to tell." As you can see, claqueurs can be deeply sincere about the applause they're delivering.  In what situation, if any, would you become a claqueur like this-- paid or unpaid? Is there a certain artist, athlete, or speaker whose performance could move you to wild applause and sincere cheers? Why or why not? If you like, use this space to write. (To save your work, copy and paste it into an email or a document.) before you review, play: Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first. Rhyming Puzzles! I give you a description of something, and you name it in a rhyming phrase. For example, if I say, "This is an ideal environment for a large tree-dwelling lizard--one in which this creature is perfectly happy and peaceful," then you say, "That's iguana nirvana." The answers will get longer and sillier as the month goes on. If you'd like to see the clue, click or mouse-over the link. I'll share each answer the following day. Enjoy! From the previous issue: You're a traveling musician, and one of your hired assistants who travels with you is always hanging around you, complimenting you, laughing at your jokes, and stumbling over himself to get you anything you want or need. He's your ______ _____. (Two words, two syllables each. Clue: use this word.) Answer: roadie toady. Try this one today: You open the fridge and see that your kid has labeled a small container "Science project. Do not eat." Curious, you open it up, and a disgusting smell overpowers you. Inside the container is a dry, lumpy mass. You don't know what it is, exactly: you just know that it's an ____ _____. (Two words, two syllables each. Clue: use this word.) review this word: 1. A near opposite of CLAQUEUR is A. DENIER. B. HECKLER. C. ADHERENT. 2. Crabbe and Goyle are Draco's claque, always a step behind him, _____. A. ready to pounce B. guffawing at his jokes C. teasing him relentlessly 1. B 2. B a final word: I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From my blog:    36 ways to study words.    Why we forget words, & how to remember them.    How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.