clout
B2Informal to Neutral (for influence); Literary/Archaic (for blow).
Definition
Meaning
Great influence, power, or pull over people or events; a heavy blow.
In modern informal usage, it often refers to social influence or fame, especially online (social media clout). Historically and physically, it refers to a forceful hit.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Has undergone semantic shift. Traditional meaning of 'blow' is now somewhat archaic or dialectal. Dominant contemporary meaning is 'influence/power,' often in political/business contexts, and more recently, 'social media status.'
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slight. The 'blow' sense is slightly more preserved in UK dialects (e.g., 'clout round the ear'). The 'influence' sense is dominant in both.
Connotations
Influence sense: positive/neutral in formal contexts, can be slightly cynical in political talk. Social media sense: often pejorative, implying pursuit of empty fame.
Frequency
The 'influence' sense is high-frequency in business/political journalism in both regions. The slang 'clout chase(r)' is equally common in internet culture globally.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have clout (with somebody)use/wield/exercise one's clout (to do something)lend/give somebody cloutVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “clout chase (slang: to pursue online fame)”
- “clout chaser (slang)”
- “to have a lot of clout”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to the power a company or individual has in a market or during negotiations.
Academic
Rare; might appear in political science/sociology discussing power structures.
Everyday
Used to talk about someone's influence or, slangily, online popularity.
Technical
In computing (niche): a measure of data block accessibility. In sports (boxing): slang for punching power.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He clouted the ball into the stands.
- I'll clout you one if you're not careful!
American English
- She clouted him on the head with the newspaper.
- The batter clouted a home run into the upper deck.
adverb
British English
- (N/A – not standard)
American English
- (N/A – not standard)
adjective
British English
- (N/A – not standard)
American English
- (N/A – not standard)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (Not typically taught at A2)
- The manager has a lot of clout in the company.
- He hit the ball with great clout.
- The union's financial clout forced the management to negotiate.
- Without political clout, it's hard to change the law.
- The billionaire used his considerable clout to sway the committee's decision.
- Her viral videos gave her immense social clout, which she leveraged into a brand deal.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a politician with a big CLOUD over a city, influencing the weather. CLOUD of influence -> CLOUT. Or, a CLOUT (hit) from a powerful person.
Conceptual Metaphor
INFLUENCE IS PHYSICAL FORCE/IMPACT (wield clout, carry clout).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do NOT translate as 'клоун' (clown).
- Avoid translating the 'influence' sense literally as 'дубина' (cudgel) – that's for the 'hit' sense.
- 'Влияние' or 'авторитет' are better for the core meaning.
- The modern 'social media clout' is often rendered as 'хайп' or 'влияние в соцсетях'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a countable noun for multiple instances of influence (*He has many clouts*). Correct: He has a lot of clout.
- Confusing the spelling with 'cloud'.
- Using the 'blow' sense in modern formal writing where 'influence' is intended.
Practice
Quiz
In modern internet slang, what does 'clout chasing' typically mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The 'influence' sense is acceptable in formal business and political contexts. The 'blow' sense is informal/archaic. The social media slang is very informal.
Yes, but primarily to mean 'hit forcefully' (e.g., clouted the ball). Using it to mean 'influence' is very rare and non-standard.
'Clout' implies a more direct, potent, and often informal power to get things done. 'Influence' is broader and more neutral.
From Old English 'clūt' meaning a patch or piece of cloth. The 'hit' meaning may come from the idea of patching/clouting something, or from a dialectal use for a heavy piece of something.