# clothespin vote

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/clothespin-vote
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A vote that is cast for a given candidate despite personal reservations or a distaste for that individual.

## Examples

- I will cast a clothespin vote for him because I dislike his opponent more.
- He gives a clothespin vote to the leader he trusts the least.
- Many voters felt forced to cast a clothespin vote to keep the other candidate out of office.
- Even though she disagreed with his tax plan, she cast a clothespin vote to ensure her party stayed in power.
- The young activist decided to offer a clothespin vote for the moderate candidate rather than wasting her ballot on a third party.
- Disillusioned by the lack of viable options, the citizens reluctantly cast a clothespin vote, holding their noses as they marked the ballot for the lesser of two evils.

## Origin

From the figurative image of holding one's nose while casting a ballot, suggesting that the candidate is a source of considerable olfactory distress. The term implies that the act of voting has become an exercise in endurance, necessitating the use of a clothespin to mask the metaphorical stench of the available choices.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.