clue
noun
v
kluː
noun
1
an
object
or
piece
of
information
that
helps
someone
solve
a
crime
or
mystery
〔帮助破案或解开谜团的〕线索，提示
Police
have
found
a
vital
clue
.
警方发现了至关重要的线索。
[+
to/about/as
to
]
We
now
have
an
important
clue
as
to
the
time
of
the
murder.
我们现在对这宗谋杀案的案发时间有了重要的线索。
Archaeological
evidence
will
provide
clues
about
what
the
building
was
used
for.
考古证据将为这幢建筑的用途提供线索。
[+
in
]
This
information
is
a
valuable
clue
in
our
hunt
for
the
bombers.
这一信息是我们追捕放置炸弹者极有价值的线索。
a
desperate
search
for
clues
拼命寻找线索
2
information
that
helps
you
understand
the
reasons
why
something
happens
〔帮助弄清事情缘由的〕线索
[+
to/about/as
to
]
Childhood
experiences
may
provide
a
clue
as
to
why
some
adults
develop
eating
disorders.
关于为什么有些成年人会有进食障碍这一问题，童年时期的经历也许可以提供线索。
3
a
piece
of
information
that
helps
you
solve
a
crossword
puzzle,
answer
a
question
etc
〔解开纵横填字谜、回答问题等的〕提示语
I’ll
give
you
a
clue
,
Kevin,
it’s
a
kind
of
bird.
我给你个提示吧，凯文，那是一种鸟。
4
not have a clue (where/why/how etc)
a.
to
not
have
any
idea
about
the
answer
to
a
question,
how
to
do
something,
what
a
situation
is
etc
b.
to
be
very
stupid,
or
very
bad
at
a
particular
activity
〔做起某种事来〕很愚蠢，很笨拙
informal
‘Do
you
know
how
to
switch
this
thing
off?’
‘I
haven’t
a
clue.’
“你知道怎么关上这个吗？”“我不知道。”
Until
I
arrived
here,
I
hadn’t
got
a
clue
what
I
was
going
to
say
to
her.
在我到达这里之前，我一点都不知道怎么去对她说。
Don’t
let
Mike
cook
you
dinner;
he
hasn’t
got
a
clue.
别让迈克给你做饭，他做这种事笨得很。
I
haven’t
a
clue
how
to
talk
to
girls.
我和女孩子讲起话来笨嘴拙舌的。
[+
about
]
No
point
asking
Jill
–
she
hasn’t
got
a
clue
about
maths.
问吉尔没有用，她对数学一窍不通。
v
5
to
give
someone
information
about
something
[非正式] 给〔某人〕提供线索; 告知
[+
on/about
]
Somebody
must
have
clued
him
in
on
our
sales
strategy.
肯定有人把我们的销售策略透露给了他。