"empty the clip" means: To fire all of the cartridges in the magazine of an automatic or semi-automatic firearm.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
empty the clip
(chiefly, US, literal) To fire all of the cartridges in the magazine of an automatic or semi-automatic firearm.
Definitions
#1·Apr 27, 2026
(chiefly, US, literal) To fire all of the cartridges in the magazine of an automatic or semi-automatic firearm.
Prosecutors say Medina fired eight shots, emptying the clip on his weapon.
For parents
"empty the clip" means: To fire all of the cartridges in the magazine of an automatic or semi-automatic firearm.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
"empty the clip" means: To fire all of the cartridges in the magazine of an automatic or semi-automatic firearm.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. Note the regional or dialect label (US) — usage may sound odd outside that variety. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.
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#2·Apr 27, 2026
(chiefly, US, idiomatic, sport, by extension) To compete with great vigor, especially by making numerous scoring attempts.
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#3·Apr 27, 2026
(chiefly, US, idiomatic, by extension) To speak vehemently, especially in an outraged, insulting, or threatening manner.
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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🗺️About Regional & Other slang
Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.
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Other words near "empty the clip" (E)
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