haze / clue
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haze
A slight clouding of the atmosphere caused by fine water, smoke, or dust particles that limits visibility; a light fog or veil.
Am Morgen lag ein bläulicher Dunst über dem Tal.
In the morning, a bluish haze lay over the valley.
to have no clue
A fixed expression meaning that someone has absolutely no idea or knowledge about something.
Ich habe keinen blassen Dunst, wie man diese Software installiert.
I have no clue how to install this software.
The two meanings are easy to distinguish. The fixed expression 'keinen (blassen) Dunst haben' (to have no clue) refers to a lack of knowledge. The literal meaning always describes a visible clouding in the air, that is, a weather phenomenon.
Durch den morgendlichen Dunst konnte man die Berge kaum sehen.
Because of the morning haze, you could hardly see the mountains.
The idiom is 'keinen (blassen) Dunst haben' (to have no clue). The word 'blass' (pale) is optional and intensifies the statement. The verb is always a form of 'haben' (to have).
Er hat keinen blassen Dunst, wovon wir reden.
He has no clue what we're talking about.
The expression 'keinen Dunst haben' (to have no clue) is colloquial. It is used very often in spoken language among friends or in informal situations.
Sorry, von Mathe habe ich absolut keinen Dunst.
Sorry, I have absolutely no clue about math.
In the literal meaning, 'Dunst' is often combined with weather and landscape. Typical phrases include 'ein Schleier aus Dunst' (a veil of haze), 'im Dunst liegen' (to lie in the haze), or 'ein leichter Dunst' (a light haze).
Die ganze Stadt lag unter einer Glocke aus Dunst und Abgasen.
The whole city lay under a dome of haze and exhaust fumes.
hunch / idea
Both words occur in expressions that convey a lack of knowledge. Keine Ahnung haben is the usual, neutral form; keinen Dunst haben is a fixed, somewhat colloquial expression and is used only in the negative. In everyday situations, keine Ahnung haben is usually the better choice.
Ich habe keinen Dunst, wann der Bus heute abfährt.
I have no clue when the bus leaves today.
Ich habe keine Ahnung, wann der Bus heute abfährt.
I have no idea when the bus leaves today.
