clue
clue — noun
- cluesingular
- cluesplural
1. something that gives you a direction or a starting point when you are working ou
something that gives you a direction or a starting point when you are working out the correct answer to a puzzle, a crime, or a difficult question.
The police found a muddy footprint near the back door — it was an important clue.
clue + found/discovered (typical verb collocation)
Hiro studied the old map for clues about where the treasure was buried.
clue + about + wh-clause
Each crossword clue in today's puzzle points to a five-letter animal.
Scientists hope the rock sample will give them a clue to how the mountain formed.
The doctor looked at the rash for a clue to what caused the patient's fever.
- hint
more indirect; a clue is often a concrete piece of evidence, while a hint is a deliberate suggestion
- sign
broader — a sign can indicate many things; a clue specifically helps solve something
- indication
more formal; often used in scientific or medical contexts
文法句型
clue + about/as to + noun/wh-clause
clue + to + noun
用法筆記
Often appears with verbs like find, discover, search for, give, and provide. The prepositions about, as to, and to are common after clue when linking to the thing being solved.
常見錯誤
2. a complete lack of knowledge or understanding about something; used only in nega
a complete lack of knowledge or understanding about something; used only in negative expressions such as 'not have a clue' or 'have no clue'.
Imran has not got a clue about how to change a car tyre.
not have a clue + about + how to
"Which platform does the train leave from?" — "Sorry, I haven't got a clue."
Nadia had no clue that the party was a surprise for her birthday.
The new intern had no clue how the office filing system worked.
- have no idea
the most common neutral alternative; slightly less informal than 'not have a clue'
文法句型
not have a clue + about + noun/wh-clause
have no clue + wh-clause
用法筆記
Only used in negative structures — not have a clue, haven't got a clue, have no clue. The positive form 'have a clue' is almost never used with this meaning. 'Not have a clue' is stronger than 'not know' and often implies the speaker is surprised by their own ignorance.
常見錯誤
clue — verb
- cluepresent simple I / you / we / they
- clues3rd person singular
- cluing-ing form
- cluedpast simple
1. to write or design the hints and answers for a crossword, quiz, or other puzzle
to write or design the hints and answers for a crossword, quiz, or other puzzle game.
Tariq clues the Sunday crossword for a national newspaper every week.
clue + crossword/puzzle (direct object)
The puzzle was expertly clued, with each hint leading smoothly to the answer.
passive: was clued
Brandon spent the afternoon cluing a set of science questions for the school quiz.
Lara enjoys cluing cryptic crosswords because they challenge her creativity.
- devise
more general; 'clue' is specific to puzzles and games
文法句型
clue + noun (crossword, puzzle, question)
用法筆記
This sense is used mainly in British English, especially in the context of crossword construction. The past tense is 'clued'. The word is rarely used this way in everyday conversation — it belongs to the specialist world of puzzle-making.
2. to give someone the information they need to understand something, especially wh
to give someone the information they need to understand something, especially when they have been confused or left out.
Ayana clued her new colleague in on how the booking system works.
clue + someone + in + on + noun
Can someone clue me in about what happened while I was away?
clue + me + in + about + wh-clause
Sven clued his brother up before dinner so he would know who everyone was.
The manager clued the team in on the new safety rules before the inspection.
- keep in the dark
idiomatic opposite — to deliberately not inform someone
文法句型
clue + someone + in
clue + someone + up
clue + someone + in + on/about
用法筆記
Almost always used with the particle 'in' or 'up' ('clue someone in', 'clue someone up'). The object (the person receiving the information) comes between 'clue' and the particle. 'Clue in' is more common in American English; 'clue up' is more common in British English.