clue-by-four
- noun
- /kluː baɪ fɔːr/
- Slang
:
pista contundente
- After missing the point several times, the teacher delivered a clue-by-four that finally made the concept clear.
Examples
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Sometimes it takes a clue-by-four to get someone to realize their mistake.
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His sarcastic comment was such a clue-by-four that everyone finally understood the situation.
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Sometimes, a clue-by-four is the best way to learn!
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After the meeting, I finally got the clue-by-four about the project.
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After missing the point several times, the teacher delivered a clue-by-four that finally made the concept clear.
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His sarcastic comment was such a clue-by-four that everyone finally understood the situation.
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Sometimes it takes a clue-by-four to get someone to realize their mistake.
Synonyms
229
1.5
A small indirect suggestion that helps you understand something
A pretend object used to give someone a very clear hint about something they missed
A small piece of information that helps you understand something
How Blunt
Surface Forms
Morphology
clue-by-four = clue + two-by-four (semi-transparent) = by + clue + four
Formed as a playful compound modeled on 'two-by-four'; the components are recognizable but the figurative sense 'a blunt or forceful hint' requires cultural/idiomatic knowledge.
Etymology
Clue-by-four is a joking phrase that plays on two-by-four, a piece of wood people use like a club. It suggests giving someone a very blunt 'clue', like being hit with a board, to make them suddenly understand, which is why it means a hard, obvious hint.