information

A particular or singular thing that someone has written or said which is especially informative, interesting, useful, etc. Can also be used sarcastically to imply that what is said is banal, useless, or uninformative. Amidst the rather rambling speech delivered by the prime minister, there was one little nugget of information that voters would do well to keep in mind. This book is a fascinating read, and it's filled with nuggets of information about the war. Thanks for that nugget of information, Jeff. I'm sure sunbathing tips will really come in handy in Iceland!

To get someone (sometimes with a touch of trickery) to reveal details that likely would not have been volunteered. Usually followed by "out of," as in "worm information out of." Bill was keeping quiet about his break-up, but I knew I could worm information out of him if I tried hard enough. Kira worms information about upcoming tests out of her teachers by complimenting them and straightening up their classrooms.

Someone or something that contains a lot of knowledge about a particular topic. You should ask Amanda for advice about your cake recipe—she's a mine of information about baking.

a phrase that introduces or follows a piece of information. (Can be spoken with considerable impatience.) Mary: What is this one? Sue: For your information, it is exactly the same as the one you just asked about. Bob: How long do I have to wait here? Bill: For your information, we will be here until the bus driver feels that it is safe to travel.

Fig. someone or something that is full of information. Grandfather is a gold mine of information about World War I. The new encyclopedia is a positive gold mine of useful information.

Raise your head and look around you carefully for information or something that you need to see or avoid. Heads up! Watch out for that door! Heads up! There is a car coming.

information known only by those most involved with the issue; secret information relating to an organization. I have some inside information about the Smith Company.

Fig. someone or something that is full of information. Grandfather is a mine of information about World War II. The new search engine is a positive mine of useful information.

used when you want to tell someone that what they have said should be kept private or is embarrassing 'His kisses were really wet.' 'Ugh - too much information!'

a person or a book with a lot of information (often + about ) He's a mine of information about the cinema.

see under gold mine.

During the Dark Ages before computerized directory assistance, callers who didn't know a phone number dialed the operator and asked to be connected to “information.” The information operator would then supply the number, and at no charge. “Information” with “please” added in a more polite era, was adopted as the title of a very popular radio quiz show in which a panel of experts tried to answer questions submitted by listeners. The phrase then became widely used as a preamble to any sort of question. The radio program was satirized by another quiz show whose title “It Pays to Be Ignorant” also became a brief fad in everyday speech.