I. clue 1 S2 /kluː/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Origin: clew 'ball of string' (11-19 centuries) , from Old English cliewen ; from the use of a ball of string for finding the way out of a network of passages ]
1 . an object or piece of information that helps someone solve a crime or mystery:
Police have found a vital clue.
clue to/about/as to
We now have an important clue as to the time of the murder.
Archaeological evidence will provide clues about what the building was used for.
clue in
This information is a valuable clue in our hunt for the bombers.
a desperate search for clues
2 . information that helps you understand the reasons why something happens
clue to/about/as to
Childhood experiences may provide a clue as to why some adults develop eating disorders.
3 . a piece of information that helps you solve a ↑ crossword puzzle , answer a question etc:
I’ll give you a clue, Kevin, it’s a kind of bird.
4 . not have a clue (where/why/how etc) informal
a) to not have any idea about the answer to a question, how to do something, what a situation is etc:
‘Do you know how to switch this thing off?’ ‘I haven’t a clue.’
Until I arrived here, I hadn’t got a clue what I was going to say to her.
b) to be very stupid, or very bad at a particular activity:
Don’t let Mike cook you dinner; he hasn’t got a clue.
I haven’t a clue how to talk to girls.
not have a clue (where/why/how etc) about
No point asking Jill – she hasn’t got a clue about maths.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ provide a clue
Any information could provide the police with useful clues.
▪ hold a clue ( also yield a clue formal ) (=provide one)
The poem itself holds a clue about who it was written for.
▪ leave a clue
The bombers may have left behind vital clues.
▪ search (something) for clues
Detectives are still searching the house for clues.
▪ look for/hunt for clues
Investigators descended on the crime scene hunting for clues.
▪ find a clue
No one had found any clues as to where the missing girl could be.
■ adjectives
▪ an important/useful/valuable clue
The car used in the robbery may provide important clues.
▪ a vital clue (=very important)
A videotape could hold vital clues to the criminal’s identity.
▪ a further clue (=an additional clue)
They searched the surrounding area for further clues.
■ phrases
▪ a search for clues
She opened every drawer in her desperate search for clues.
II. clue 2 BrE AmE verb
clue somebody ↔ in phrasal verb informal
to give someone information about something
clue somebody ↔ in on/about
Somebody must have clued him in on our sales strategy.