the.com/clue
the breadcrumb the universe leaves when it wants you to feel smart.
means a piece of evidence or information that helps you solve a problem, mystery, or puzzle.
from Originally spelled 'clew,' meaning a ball of thread or yarn. The leap to meaning comes from the Greek myth of Theseus, who unrolled a ball of thread to find his way back out of the Minotaur's labyrinth — so a 'clew' became anything that guides you through a maze. By the 16th–17th centuries the figurative sense took over, the spelling drifted to 'clue,' and the literal ball of string was quietly left behind in the dark.
- origin
- From 'clew,' the thread Theseus used to escape the labyrinth.
- detective trick
- Sherlock Holmes never actually said 'elementary, my dear Watson.'
- board game
- Clue's victim, Mr. Boddy, dies in every single game.
- plural twist
- To be 'clueless' is to lack the literal escape thread.
the crossword puzzle — daily word puzzle in newspapers since 1913, most famously the new york times crossword
clue the board game — mystery game by hasbro where players solve who killed mr. boddy in a mansion
clue the 1985 film — comedy mystery movie starring tim curry, madeline kahn, and christopher lloyd