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clue
This word carries a strong association with discovery and the mental process of connecting dots. It suggests a trail or a breadcrumb that leads a person from a state of ignorance to a state of understanding. In a detective or mystery context, it is a concrete object or fact; in a social context, it is a subtle signal.
When used in the phrase having no clue, the word shifts from a physical piece of evidence to a measure of awareness or competence. It often implies a total lack of understanding or a feeling of being completely lost in a specific situation, frequently used in casual, self-deprecating or critical speech.
Countable when referring to a specific piece of evidence, like a fingerprint or a torn letter.
Meanings
Examples
That is a clue.
Phrasal Verbs
clue in
to provide someone with necessary information or a secret
I had no idea what was happening until Sarah clued me in on the office politics.