clue
clue — 名詞
- cluesingular
- cluesplural
1. something that gives you a direction or a starting point when you are working ou
線索
有助解決問題或謎團的跡象或資訊
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.
警方在後門附近發現了一個泥腳印——那是重要的線索。
clue + found/discovered (typical verb collocation)
Hiro studied the old map for clues about where the treasure was buried.
Hiro 仔細研究那張古老的地圖，尋找寶藏埋藏地點的線索。
clue + about + wh-clause
Each crossword clue in today's puzzle points to a five-letter animal.
今天填字遊戲的每個提示都指向一種五個字母的動物。
Scientists hope the rock sample will give them a clue to how the mountain formed.
科學家希望這塊岩石樣本能提供山脈形成方式的線索。
The doctor looked at the rash for a clue to what caused the patient's fever.
醫生觀察皮疹，尋找病人發燒原因的線索。
- 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
毫無頭緒
對某事完全不了解或不知道
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.
Imran 對如何更換汽車輪胎毫無頭緒。
not have a clue + about + how to
"Which platform does the train leave from?" — "Sorry, I haven't got a clue."
「火車從哪一個月台出發？」——「抱歉，我完全不知道。」
Nadia had no clue that the party was a surprise for her birthday.
Nadia 完全不知道那場派對是為她舉辦的驚喜生日會。
The new intern had no clue how the office filing system worked.
那位新來的實習生完全不了解公司的檔案系統怎麼運作。
- 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 — 動詞
- 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
編寫提示
為填字遊戲等設計線索和答案
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.
Tariq 每週為一家全國性報紙的週日填字遊戲編寫提示。
clue + crossword/puzzle (direct object)
The puzzle was expertly clued, with each hint leading smoothly to the answer.
這個謎題的提示設計得很巧妙，每個線索都能順利引導出答案。
passive: was clued
Brandon spent the afternoon cluing a set of science questions for the school quiz.
Brandon 花了一下午為學校的問答比賽設計一套科學題目的提示。
Lara enjoys cluing cryptic crosswords because they challenge her creativity.
Lara 喜歡設計 cryptic 填字遊戲的提示，因為這能激發她的創意。
- 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
告知
提供資訊幫助某人了解情況
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.
Ayana 告訴新同事預訂系統的使用方法。
clue + someone + in + on + noun
Can someone clue me in about what happened while I was away?
有誰可以告訴我，我不在的時候發生什麼事了嗎？
clue + me + in + about + wh-clause
Sven clued his brother up before dinner so he would know who everyone was.
Sven 在晚餐前先讓弟弟了解狀況，好讓他知道每個人是誰。
The manager clued the team in on the new safety rules before the inspection.
經理在檢查前向團隊說明了新的安全規定。
- 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.