clams

Everyday

1. Clams are shellfish with two hard shells joined by a hinge, which live in sand or mud. tree →
2. Clams are eaten as food, as in clam chowder. tree →
3. To clam up means to suddenly stop talking, often from shyness or fear. tree →
4. (US slang, old) Clams can mean dollars. tree →

In the lessons

In science, clams are molluscs that filter water to feed; giant clams on coral reefs can be huge. At the beach, kids dig for clams. «Happy as a clam» means very happy (US).

Examples

• We dug for clams at low tide. tree →
• Clam chowder is a creamy soup. tree →
• The giant clams on the reef were bigger than me. tree →
• When the teacher asked, he clammed up. tree →
• Clams breathe through gills. tree →
• That bike cost fifty clams! (slang) tree →
• A dish of venison, however, was no unacceptable meal to them, especially after feeding so long on oysters and clams. tree →

Note

Singular: clam. Clam up: past «clammed». Myth: giant clams do not trap divers.