clout |klout| noun 1 informal a heavy blow with the hand or a hard object : a clout on the ear. 2 informal influence or power, esp. in politics or business : I knew he carried a lot of clout. 3 archaic a piece of …

Dec 4, 2018 · Fisticuffs and Sport Clout as an uncountable noun meaning power or influence, especially in politics or business, is a metaphorical extension in the late 1950s of its original meaning as a …

Aug 11, 2021 · Such a disingenuous fame chaser might be referred to as either a social climber or a clout chaser. The former is probably a more widely accepted term; the latter is more of a slang term, …

May 30, 2019 · Opinions about the origin vary, which is a sign that no one really knows the answer. Here are some discussions of the quustion in various reference works. From Mitford Mathews, A …

Power, clout, influence, authority, control, etc. are all capable of being used to mean exactly the same thing. Of that (non-exhaustive) list, I'd say that influence is the best one for the "power by …

1 These Cast not a clout till May be out quotes are weather related but it does not necessarily exclude @Josh61's hawthorne blossom reference is not also the origin: Cast not a clout—'till May be out.§ § …

Oct 16, 2015 · Much like the data storage definition of cache, I understood cachet to mean that you had a collection of respect or clout. The definition in OED declares this is more of a state, and says …

Apr 11, 2015 · The meaning of clout here is the second one from this list: pull; strong influence; muscle, especially political power So the example sentence given there applies: a wealthy campaign …

Dec 1, 2013 · Say we had the following: Higher Education spending, clout, and influence in New York State is substantial. Within the State’s borders... Should the latter instance of State be capitalized or …

Jan 14, 2015 · The answer you accepted ("clout") does not necessarily imply these things, but is applicable to a wider variety of settings. For example, I would refer to a tough and highly-influential …