only clue

collocation in English

meaningsofonlyandclue

These words are often used together. Click on the links below to explore the meanings. Or,see other collocations withclue.
only
adjective[before noun]
uk
/ˈəʊn.li/us
/ˈoʊn.li/
used to show that there is a single one or very few of something, or that there are ...
See more atonly
clue
noun[C]
uk
/kluː/us
/kluː/
a sign or some information that helps you to find the answer to a problem, question, ...
See more atclue

(Definition ofonlyandcluefrom theCambridge English Dictionary© Cambridge University Press)

Examplesofonly clue

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
It has a bibliography, but theonlyclueto non-printed sources is in the acknowledgements.
From theCambridge English Corpus
In other cases, additional congenital malformations and/or dysmorphism may be theonlyclueto an underlying developmental defect that could have a genetic cause.
From theCambridge English Corpus
How much more, then, are they to be regarded with suspicion as affording a clue, and theonlyclue, to the total capital value.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
The number plate—in many cases, only a part of it—has often provided theonlycluethat the police have had to work on.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
So far theonlyclueto the identity of the wreck is the inscription on the ship's bell recording its presentation in 1711.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Clause 3 gives theonlyclueto that.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Theonlycluethey have is that he has a locket around his neck.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Theonlyclueis the description of the device as an opticon, an apparent reference to a light-manipulating device.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Theonlyclueto his past is the uniform he wears.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
A single unidentifiable animal track seems to be theonlyclue.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Heronlyclueto escape is a magical seed that leads to warped places.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
This pervasive behavior, however, was theonlyclueto the extent of her stress.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Theironlyclueis mysterious symbol in shape of tic-tac-toe.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Theonlyclueis dripping water from the temple above.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Hisonlyclueto her identity is a glass slipper he finds on the palace steps.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
He then shows them his portable hand-cranked radio, theonlycluethat the story takes place somewhere in the last half of the 20th century.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Hisonlyclueis a number of bee stings.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
This pervasive behaviour, however, was theonlyclueto the extent of her stress.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Hisonlyclueis an old ventriloquist dummy.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Want to learn more?
Go to the definition ofonly
Go to the definition ofclue
See other collocations withclue