Showing definitions for clout

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Slang dictionary results for clout

clout

American  

[klout] / klaʊt /

noun

1. a blow, especially with the hand; cuff.

   The bully gave him a painful clout on the head.

2. Informal. pull; strong influence; muscle, especially political power.

   a wealthy campaign contributor with clout at city hall.

3. Baseball. a long hit, especially an extra-base hit.

   A hard clout to deep center field drove in the winning run.

4. Archery.

   1. the mark or target shot at, especially in long-distance shooting.

   2. a shot that hits the mark.

5. Also called clout nail.  a nail for attaching sheet metal to wood, having a short shank with a broad head.

6. Archaic.

   1. a patch or piece of cloth or other material used to mend something.

   2. any worthless piece of cloth; rag.

   3. an article of clothing (usually used contemptuously).

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verb (used with object)

1. to strike, especially with the hand; cuff.

2. Archaic.

   1. to bandage.

   2. to patch; mend.

clout British  

/ klaʊt /

noun

1. informal a blow with the hand or a hard object

2. power or influence, esp in politics

3. archery

   1. the target used in long-distance shooting

   2. the centre of this target

   3. a shot that hits the centre

4. Also called: clout nail.  a short, flat-headed nail used esp for attaching sheet metal to wood

5. dialect

   1. a piece of cloth

      a dish clout

   2. a garment

   3. a patch

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verb

1. informal to give a hard blow to, esp with the hand

2. to patch with a piece of cloth or leather

Usage

What else does clout mean? To have clout is to have influence or power. In popular culture, people with clout are seen as popular and cool.

Other Word Forms

• clouter
  noun

Etymology

Origin of clout

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English clūt “piece of cloth or metal”; cognate with Middle Low German klūte, Old Norse klūtr

Explanation

When you speak of someone having clout, it usually means that they communicate a sense of power or influence, particularly in the political sense. "You’ll wanna talk to that big guy over there if you want me to let you in. He’s got clout." Clout can also mean to hit someone really hard — either the hit you give (“that’s a big clout he just landed”) or the act of hitting (“she clouted him with a baseball bat”). Of course, the sense of having power and the actual hitting are related, since clout is something to be wielded — either physically or figuratively. Note: it's not just tough guys who have clout. China is said to have "growing economic clout," and Oprah is known to have significant clout in the media industry.

Example Sentences

Luke Winkie considers their fate in his piece on the Great Clout Reset we are presently living through.

From Slate • Aug. 1, 2023

Asked for comment, the Daily Clout noted in a statement to the AP that it had issued a correction.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 26, 2022

The collected data is sometimes placed into packages based on categories such as "Ambitious Singles," "Couples With Clout," and "Kids and Cabernet."

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2022

Clout is its own form of currency among celebrities, some of whom seem to be depleting their supply.

From Washington Post • Feb. 4, 2022

His power over the heroic couplet or quatrain is shown in his fable, Mother Hubbard’s Tale, and in his curious verse memoir, Colin Clout; both of which are medleys of satire and flattery.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 6 "English Language" to "Epsom Salts" by Various

Related Words

• influence
• prestige
• sway
• weight