This ambiguous sound can be noticed when a rather large person's double, triple, or quadruple chin has accumulated enough mass to slap against their neck, creating a subtle clap-like noise that is produced by the movement of their jaw while eating or sometimes talking. Sometimes mistaken for lip-smacking, if you are chubby enough to have a pelican's applause, you might as well just keep eating because your ass will never be thin.
Roseanne Barr is so lazy she just flaps her jaw for her Pelican's Applause instead of exerting the energy to move her arms at awards shows.
by Narcolepticjay August 30, 2006