clues
clues — noun
1. small pieces of information, signs, or objects that point a person toward solvin
small pieces of information, signs, or objects that point a person toward solving a puzzle, a mystery, or a problem they want to understand
Detective Sven studied the muddy footprints for clues to the burglar's escape route.
collocation: clues to + noun (the unknown)
Anjali read the riddle three times, hoping to spot clues hidden inside the wording.
clues hidden in something (location of evidence)
The teacher gave the children small clues so they could guess the secret animal.
No fingerprints, no torn fabric, no notes — there were simply no clues at the scene.
Iris collected clues from each chapter and finally guessed who the killer was.
- hints
softer, often deliberately given by someone to help
- leads
specifically points investigators in a direction; used in crime contexts
- signs
more general; can also mean indications of a future event
- indications
more formal; observed evidence that something is true
文法句型
clues to + noun
clues about + noun
leave/give/find clues
用法筆記
Frequently plural in real use ('clues' shows up far more than the bare singular 'clue'); the singular appears mainly in fixed phrases like 'a clue' or 'one clue'. Object of verbs like 'find', 'leave', 'follow', 'piece together'.
常見錯誤
clues — verb
1. to invent the short hints that go with a crossword, a treasure hunt, or another
to invent the short hints that go with a crossword, a treasure hunt, or another guessing game so that players can work out each answer
Lucas spent the weekend clueing a Saturday crossword for the school newspaper.
transitive: clue + a crossword (the puzzle being prepared)
The treasure hunt was clued by Aunt Defne, who hid riddles in every room.
passive: be clued by someone
Stefan loves clueing word puzzles for his grandchildren during the long winter holidays.
It can take a whole day to clue a hard crossword carefully.
- set (a puzzle)
more common umbrella term in British crossword culture
- compose (a puzzle)
neutral, slightly more formal
文法句型
clue + noun
be clued by someone
用法筆記
Specialist usage from puzzle-making communities (crossword setters call themselves 'cluers'). Object is almost always the puzzle itself ('crossword', 'quiz', 'treasure hunt'), not the answer. Distinguish from sense 2 below, which is about giving a person information.
常見錯誤
2. to share useful facts with another person so that they finally understand a situ
to share useful facts with another person so that they finally understand a situation they did not know about before
Could someone please clue Joon in on what happened during last night's meeting?
phrasal pattern: clue someone in on something
Sana clued her flatmates in about the new rota for cleaning the kitchen.
informal register: clue + person + in + about
Antonia, please clue me up about the changes to the wedding plans this weekend.
The coach took five minutes to clue the new players in on the team's basic signals.
Once Yael clued her parents in about the surprise party, they kept the secret beautifully.
- fill (someone) in
very close in meaning; slightly more common in everyday speech
- brief
more formal; often used in work or military contexts
- update
neutral; emphasises bringing knowledge up to current state
- keep (someone) in the dark
deliberately withhold information
文法句型
clue someone in (on something)
clue someone up (about something)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense always takes a PERSON as the direct object plus an obligatory particle ('in' or 'up'). Sense 1 takes a PUZZLE as the object with no particle. Strongly informal — avoid in formal writing.