clue-by-four

clue-by-four


   [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 "First, you
   got to hit him with a two-by-four. That's to get his attention." The
   clue-by-four is a close relative of the {LART}. Syn. clue stick. This
   metaphor is commonly elaborated; your editor once heard a hacker say
   "I smite you with the great sword Cluebringer!"