# rattle and clank

idiom · Slang

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/rattle-and-clank
Updated: 2026-06-07

## Meaning

bank

## Examples

- The old car begins to rattle and clank when I drive fast.
- Every time the ancient heater starts up, it begins to rattle and clank, keeping the whole house awake.
- The rusted machinery, abandoned for decades in the damp cellar, began to rattle and clank as the gears finally turned once more.

## Origin

Suggestive of the busy handling of coins.

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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.