what is a dingbat?

[Pea Brain]

I can cope with general knowledge, anagrams and cryptic clues but please could someone enlighten me as to what a dingbat is ?????

[bigmamma]

Not sure if it is anything else but , if I was calling someone silly , stupid , I could call them a dingbat , or a gallah , or a drongo for example .

[Aloysius535]

In puzzle terms a dingbat is similar to a rebus. It generally uses words or letters to cryptically suggest a phrase.

[burnhal]

they are generally word puzzles but the shape, position, orientation etc of words and letters are important. Not east to show here so have a look here http://www.at-bristol.org.uk/education/nesta/b ender_dingbat.htm as well as loads of other sites

[Aloysius535]

An example could be "don't klat" which translates to "don't talk back"

[squarebear]

A dingbat is a picture puzzle like the TV show Catchprhase. Say what you see.

For example:
NE friend ED
could be "a friend in need".

or :
MAN
BOARD
could be "man overboard".

[jno]

we shall
come

is 'we shall overcome'

[bigmamma]

Lol , sorry Pea Brain , my answer comes from living in Australia for 13 years :-) x

[Pea Brain]

Many thanks everyone !!! I think Im more confused than ever !!! I shall certainly try the suggested website.
As for you bigmamma --- I think you are the closest !!!!

[flflflflflfl]

apparently a dingbat is some kind of apartment design-i thought it was an Australian animal!

[flflflflflfl]

ok, i looked at the website burnhal suggested after posting my answer-sorry!!