Pronunciation of the words "clothes" and "February" in American English

Often, I hear this in casual speech:

• Clothes turns into "close" (especially in a word like "clothespins")
• February turns into "feb-you-ary"

My dictionary allows no option at all, for dropping the first 'r' in February. However it does give the option to drop the 'th' in clothes. It just goes to show how diverse and flexible is American English.

I personally always at least try to give both of them their full pronunciations (they're tongue-twisters!), often wincing whenever I hear the more reckless versions.

But I refrain from over-reacting or lecturing anyone about it. I just take notice and file it away for future reference; not to hold it against anyone, but as a means of understanding people better.

Webster's New 20th C. Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged, 2nd Ed. c.1959