Clout Meaning
/klaʊt/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounInfluence or effectiveness, especially political.
nounA blow with the hand.
Sentence Examples
My father has a lot of clout at city hall.
Unless you've done time in prison, you won't carry any clout in this crowd.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
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CEFR Practice Quiz
Her political ____ helped pass the new environmental law quickly.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English clout (“piece of cloth”), from Old English clūt (“piece of cloth, patch; metal plate”), from Proto-West Germanic *klūt, from Proto-Germanic *klūtaz, from Proto-Indo-European *gelewdos, from Proto-Indo-European *gel- (“to ball up, amass”). The influence sense originated in the dialect of Chicago, but has become widespread. Cognate with Old Norse klútr (“kerchief”), Swedish klut, Danish klud, Middle High German klōz (“lump”), whence German Kloß (“clump”), and dialectal Russian глуда (gluda). See also cleat.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Having relinquished his clout in City Council to run for a place on the county board, and having lost stature by reason of his failure to win the presidency, Duffy was in no position to seek the party chairmanship for himself"
— 1975, Len O'Connor, Clout--Mayor Daley and His City, page 74:
"[…]ethics officers themselves often complain that they can recommend but have little clout with which to create real change."
— 1986, Tony Alessandra, The New Art of Managing People, page 76:
"But the rise of multiracialism is not all Kumbaya choruses and “postracial” identity. The N.A.A.C.P. criticized the census change, fearing that since so few in the black community are of fully African descent, mass attrition to a mixed-race option could threaten political clout and Federal financing."
— 2008 March 23, Peggy Orenstein, “Mixed Messenger”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 06 Nov 2020:
"The chopped mushrooms add depth to both the Waitrose and the Go-Go Vegan recipe, but what gives the latter some real clout on the flavour front is a teaspoon of Marmite."
— 2011 December 15, Felicity Cloake, “How to cook the perfect nut roast”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 26 Nov 2021:
"It's funny how they judge you when they see you made a change / I poured another four just to take away the pain / My friends weren't my friends, they was ^([sic]) looking for some clout / I had what they wanted so they always came around"
— 2017, Kimetrius Foose (Lil Skies), Myron Goedhart, “Fake”, performed by Lil Skies:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
Her political ____ helped pass the new environmental law quickly.