get a clue

verb

To become aware of the obvious reality of a situation, often used as a command to indicate frustration

“"How many times do I have to tell you that this relationship is over? Get a clue!", she said after her ex-boyfriend asked her again to get back together.”

Similar
get with the program
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Meanings

verbget a clue (third-person singular simple present gets a clue, present participle getting a clue, simple past got a clue, past participle (UK, Australia, NZ) got a clue or (US, Canada) gotten a clue)

present singular third person gets a clue · participle present getting a clue · past got a clue · Australia New Zealand UK participle past got a clue · Canada US participle past gotten a clue

  1. USderogatoryidiomaticimperativeinformaloftenTo become aware of the obvious reality of a situation, often used as a command to indicate frustration

    "How many times do I have to tell you that this relationship is over? Get a clue!", she said after her ex-boyfriend asked her again to get back together.

    1 more example

    How many more such incidents have to happen at Fox News — or elsewhere — before everyone gets a clue about basic workplace — and overall social — behavior?

    2017 May 19, Chuck Barney, “Another Fox News firing; Will someone please get a clue?”, in The Mercury News

    Synonyms: get with the program

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo become aware of the obvious reality of a situation, often used as a command to indicate frustration

Similar
get with the program
Also see
get with the program
Cite this entry
APA

get a clue. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/get%20a%20clue

MLA

“get a clue.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/get%20a%20clue. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “get a clue,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/get%20a%20clue.

Source: get a clue on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.