completely clueless

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "completely clueless" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who has no understanding or knowledge about a particular subject or situation. Example: "When it comes to fixing cars, I am completely clueless and would need professional help."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We were completely clueless about what we were getting into".

The New York Times

In retrospect, I see that I was completely clueless.

The Guardian

But political punditry seems completely clueless about the state of American marriage.

The New York Times

Ms. Alpert, unaware of his preoccupation, said, "I was completely clueless".

The New York Times - Style

Again referring to the British team, he added, "And they were completely clueless".

The New York Times

Yet as I said, the only way to actually believe the modern G.O.P. catechism is to be completely clueless.

The New York Times

What he says: "We always had very well-intentioned Labour ministers at Defra who were completely urban and completely clueless.

The Guardian

IN Japan, it was just too obvious that we were the completely clueless, linguistically impaired strangers that we were.

The New York Times - Travel

Meanwhile, Twenty Twelve's most brilliant comic creation is out causing havoc while simultaneously looking smug, arrogant and completely clueless.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The stoic Ricardo is the stereotypically repressed white-collar perfectionist completely clueless about other people in his life, while Alejandro devotes his attention to being a father.

The New York Times

You see, if he's any indication, big business is completely clueless about both the economics and the politics of the situation.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "completely clueless", ensure the context clearly indicates what the subject is unaware of, to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

While "completely clueless" is widely understood, it may sound too informal for academic papers or business reports. Consider using more formal alternatives like "utterly ignorant" or "wholly unaware" in such settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "completely clueless" functions primarily as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. It indicates a state of total lack of knowledge or understanding. Ludwig shows many examples where it describes individuals or groups lacking awareness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "completely clueless" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe someone's total lack of understanding or knowledge, as validated by Ludwig. While its usage is widespread across various sources, including news, academia, and general web content, it tends to lean toward informal contexts. Ludwig shows that while the phrase is considered correct, it's advisable to consider more formal alternatives like "utterly ignorant" in professional or academic writing. The phrase serves to express criticism or surprise at someone's ignorance, often with a touch of humor or irony. Therefore, while acceptable in many situations, careful consideration of the context and audience is essential for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

totally oblivious

Highlights a lack of awareness, often about one's surroundings or situation.

wholly unaware

Stresses a complete absence of knowledge or realization.

utterly ignorant

Emphasizes a total lack of knowledge or awareness.

devoid of understanding

Focuses on the absence of comprehension or insight.

absolutely uninformed

Focuses on the lack of information or education about a subject.

patently ignorant

Highlights a blatant or obvious lack of knowledge.

entirely naive

Suggests a lack of experience or worldly knowledge, leading to unawareness.

densely unperceptive

Emphasizes a strong lack of insight or understanding.

blissfully ignorant

Implies happiness derived from a lack of awareness of unpleasant facts.

knows nothing

Simple and direct way to point out person's lack of knowledge.

FAQs

How can I use "completely clueless" in a sentence?

You can use "completely clueless" to describe someone's lack of knowledge or understanding about something. For example: "I was "completely clueless" about cars until I took an auto repair class."

What are some alternatives to saying "completely clueless"?

Alternatives include "utterly ignorant", "totally oblivious", or "wholly unaware", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "completely clueless" in formal writing?

While widely understood, "completely clueless" is generally considered informal. In formal writing, consider using alternatives like "patently ignorant" or "devoid of understanding".

What's the difference between "completely clueless" and "uninformed"?

"Completely clueless" suggests a total lack of understanding, while "uninformed" simply means lacking information. Someone "uninformed" may be able to understand if given the information, whereas someone "completely clueless" may lack the fundamental knowledge to even begin to understand.