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<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><title>clue-by-four</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="../../jargon.css" type="text/css"/><meta name="generator" content="DocBook XSL Stylesheets V1.61.0"/><link rel="home" href="../index.html" title="The Jargon File"/><link rel="up" href="../C.html" title="C"/><link rel="previous" href="clover-key.html" title="clover key"/><link rel="next" href="clustergeeking.html" title="clustergeeking"/></head><body><div class="navheader"><table width="100%" summary="Navigation header"><tr><th colspan="3" align="center">clue-by-four</th></tr><tr><td width="20%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="clover-key.html">Prev</a> </td><th width="60%" align="center">C</th><td width="20%" align="right"> <a accesskey="n" href="clustergeeking.html">Next</a></td></tr></table><hr/></div><dt><a id="clue-by-four"/><dt xmlns="" id="clue-by-four"><b>clue-by-four</b></dt></dt><dd><p> [Usenet: portmanteau, clue + two-by-four] The notional stick with
which one whacks an aggressively clueless person. This term derives from a
western American folk saying about training a mule &#8220;<span class="quote">First, you got to
hit him with a two-by-four. That's to get his attention.</span>&#8221; The
clue-by-four is a close relative of the <a href="../L/LART.html"><i class="glossterm">LART</i></a>.
Syn. <span class="firstterm">clue stick</span>. This metaphor is
commonly elaborated; your editor once heard a hacker say &#8220;<span class="quote">I smite you
with the great sword Cluebringer!</span>&#8221;</p></dd><div class="navfooter"><hr/><table width="100%" summary="Navigation footer"><tr><td width="40%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="clover-key.html">Prev</a> </td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="u" href="../C.html">Up</a></td><td width="40%" align="right"> <a accesskey="n" href="clustergeeking.html">Next</a></td></tr><tr><td width="40%" align="left" valign="top">clover key </td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="h" href="../index.html">Home</a></td><td width="40%" align="right" valign="top"> clustergeeking</td></tr></table></div></body></html>