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Glite Dictionary
to have a clue

to have a clue

111 4.1
To know even a little about something
  • phrasal verb
  • /hæv ə klu/
  • Informal
translation icon : tener ni idea
  • To be honest, we don't have a clue.

I still don't think Nala has a clue what's going on.

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Examples

  • No one has a clue what that boy goes through every night without his mother.

    Blood Work (2002)

  • Twenty-four hours from now, we won't have a clue where the Captain is.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • And none of them has a clue what he should do.

    Film Courage

  • Or do I even have a clue why this could happen?

    MIT OpenCourseWare

  • Unfortunately, neither his parents nor I have a clue as to how to guide him.

  • And a lot of girls out there want guys to have a clue as to what we want.

  • Once again, he did not have a clue as to the nature of women.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • If faculty and staff have a clue, there is a good chance the students will too.

    Academic text (1992)

  • This guy doesn't have a clue about the middle class.

  • I don't have a clue what I want to do with the rest of my life.

Synonyms

to know
vsto have a clue
∞ 1.0

To have information about something

implies only a small or uncertain understanding rather than full certainty
to know about
vsto have a clue
∞ 1.5

Have information about a person or situation

gives a small or uncertain understanding rather than clear knowledge
to know what's what
vsto have a clue
  • Informal
15 6.7

To understand a situation or subject well

shows only a small or unsure grasp instead of clear understanding
to have it all figured out
vsto have a clue
  • Informal
12 6.0

To understand something fully and feel sure about it

suggests only a slight or unsure awareness instead of complete solution
to know what is what
vsto have a clue
  • Informal
1 6.4

To understand what is really happening because of experience

means a limited or uncertain grasp rather than experienced certainty

Antonyms

clueless
96 4.3

Not knowing about a subject or how to do something

How Knowledgeable

to know
∞ 1.0
to understand
∞ 1.0
to have a clue
  • Informal
111 4.1

Surface Forms

have a clue infinitive
had a clue past
had a clue past participle
having a clue present participle
has a clue third person singular

Morphology

have + a + clue

The meaning 'to have any understanding or knowledge' is directly derivable from combining 'have' (possess/experience) with 'clue' (information or evidence); the phrase literally means to possess an inkling or piece of information. This compositional pattern is common in English and has clear parallels in other languages, so a B1 learner who knows the words would readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Have a clue may come from an old story where a clue was a ball of thread used to find the way out of a maze. So, if you 'have a clue' you have a thread leading to the answer, which is why it means 'to have some idea' or understanding.