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be clueless about
/biː ˈkluːləs əˈbaʊt/
to have no knowledge or understanding of something
She was completely clueless about the new software.
She had no understanding or knowledge of the new software.
informal
to have no knowledge or understanding of something
He’s clueless about how to fix the car.
He doesn’t know how to fix the car at all.
Don’t ask her about politics; she’s clueless.
She has no knowledge or understanding of politics.
This phrase is often used to describe someone who lacks basic knowledge or awareness about a particular topic.
Collocations
be clueless aboutto be unaware or ignorant of something
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Usage in Context
Use 'be clueless about' when describing someone who lacks basic knowledge or understanding about a topic. It is informal and often used in casual conversation.
Gold Rule
Avoid Formal Contexts
This phrase is informal and should not be used in formal or professional settings.
Word Origin
The word 'clueless' originated in the 1960s as slang, combining 'clue' (meaning a piece of information) with the suffix '-less' (meaning without). The phrase 'be clueless about' became popular in the 1980s and 1990s.
Usage Notes
This phrase is informal and often used in casual conversation to describe someone who lacks knowledge or understanding about a particular subject. It can be used in both positive and negative contexts, depending on the tone.
Word Breakdown
clueless
lacking knowledge or understanding
rootabout
concerning or related to
prepositionEnglish Dictionary