steer
n. countablen. a helpful piece of advice or information that guides you in the right direction. It is a casual way to say someone gave you a tip or a suggestion.
n. a piece of advice or information concerning the direction of a course of action. Informal in register; often used in the phrase 'a good steer'.
He gave me a good steer on which car to buy.
I was unsure which department to contact, but the receptionist gave me a helpful steer toward the legal team.
The consultant's report provided a useful steer for the board of directors, helping them navigate the complexities of the recent merger without losing sight of their primary objectives.
Inherited from Middle English steeren, steren, stiren, sturen, steoren, from Old English stēoran, stīeran, stȳran (“to steer; guide a vessel”), from Proto-West Germanic stiurijan (“to steer”), from Proto-Germanic stiurijaną (“to steer”). The noun is from Middle English steere, stere (“rudder”), steor, from Old English stēor, stȳr (“steering; guidance; direction”). Compare Dutch stuur, German Steuer, Icelandic stýri.
Inherited from Middle English steer, ster, from Old English stēor (“a young bull or cow; steer”), from Proto-Germanic steuraz (“bull; steer”), from Proto-Indo-European (s)táwros (“wild bull; aurochs”). Cognate with Dutch stier, German Stier, Icelandic stjór, Latin taurus (“bull”), Greek ταύρος (távros). Doublet of tur and Taurus.
Commonly used with the adjective 'good' and the verb 'give'.