Example sentence:
From behind, I heard the _ and _ of a door.
What are those two words?
3 Answers
Consider the pull and thud of a door.
While pull isn't ordinarily considered onomatopoeia, its pronunciation is suggestive of the sound of air rushing through as a tightly-sealed door is opened.
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1
It depends on how the door was opened/closed. Potential words include
- slammed
- clicked
- banged
- creaked
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3Yes. It also depends on the door—I have one that creaks no matter how careful I am; a very large and heavy door might thud; a really good, well-maintained door should be virtually silent; etc.– 1006aCommented Jun 30, 2017 at 3:29
Perhaps the sound of the door can be left up to the imagination of the reader? The writer has already deduced that the sounds are from a door, so the whole statement could be simply:
From behind, I heard the opening and closing of a door.
Or
From behind, I heard the unlocking and opening of a door.
Or
From behind, I heard the closing and locking of a door.
Otherwise, any sound associated with a door fits. For example:
From behind, I heard the creaking and slamming of a door.
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+1 for opening and closing which are as generic as the door the question asks about! Commented Feb 27, 2018 at 20:45
KL-assonance in English, which have to do with things being or moving together, frequently with considerable force applied, and often making a distinctive noise. See the Venn diagram for details.