clue

手がかり、ヒント

答えを見つけたり、何かを理解したりする助けになる情報。

やさしい英語で： A piece of information that helps you find an answer or understand something.

• Can you give me a clue?
• We solved the puzzle using the last clue.
• His accent offered a clue to where he came from.

使い方： a clue to something (The title gives a clue to the story’s ending.); a clue about something (Her expression gave us a clue about her feelings.)

類義語： hint, indication

よく使う表現： clue to something, give a clue, crossword clue

見当、心当たり

物事についての理解や見当。普通は何も分からないと言うときに使う。

やさしい英語で： Knowledge or understanding of something, usually used when saying you have none.

• I have no clue.
• He hasn’t a clue how to cook rice.
• Do you have any clue why the lights went out?

使い方： have no clue about something (I have no clue about car repairs.); have no clue how/why/where… (She has no clue where he went.)

類義語： idea, understanding

よく使う表現： have no clue, not a clue, clue about something, have a clue

手がかり、証拠

何が起きたか、誰が犯罪を犯したかを知る助けになるもの。

やさしい英語で： Something found that helps show what happened or who committed a crime.

• The police found a clue near the door.
• Detectives searched the room for clues.
• A muddy footprint provided a vital clue to the thief’s identity.

類義語： evidence, lead, indication

よく使う表現： look for clues, clue at something, vital clue

知らせる、教える

相手に必要な情報や、まだ知らないことを教える。

やさしい英語で： To give someone information they need or did not know.

• Please clue me in.
• He clued us in on the latest changes.
• Nobody had clued her up about the meeting.

使い方： clue someone in on something (Can you clue me in on the new plans?); clue someone up about something (She clued me up about the local customs.)

類義語： inform, fill in, brief

よく使う表現： clue someone in, clue someone up