kerplunk

American  

[ker-pluhngk] / kərˈplʌŋk /

adverb

1. with or as if with a sudden muffled thud.

   The huge stone hit the water kerplunk.

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Etymology

Origin of kerplunk

First recorded in 1885–90; see origin at ker-, plunk

Explanation

When something lands with a heavy, dull sound, you might describe the sound as kerplunk. A rock thrown into a lake goes kerplunk as it enters the water. The word kerplunk is an example of onomatopoeia, meaning it is a word that describes a sound by mimicking that sound. It's especially used to represent the sound of a heavy object falling into liquid, but it can be used for other thudding sounds, too. Figuratively, if someone says that something went kerplunk, they mean that it didn't go over very well. If your presentation went kerplunk, it probably wasn't very engaging or successful.

Example Sentences

That means Stone and Jackson can’t pressure the quarterback, which is where several of the Cougs’ turnovers have come from, and before you know it the whole operation has gone kerplunk.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 29, 2023

Stroud went kerplunk in a loss to Michigan.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 28, 2022

They followed a seven-game winning streak in January that provided hope in College Park by going kerplunk, sputtering into Friday night’s regular season finale against Minnesota on a 5-6 stretch.

From Washington Post • Mar. 3, 2019

Until recently, expensive rockets always went kerplunk in the ocean after delivering satellites to orbit.

From Science Magazine • Dec. 30, 2015

He stood there for a second squealing his head off; then he leaned over, and kerplunk, he fell in the barrel.

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls