Possible Clues:

• Having no suit ranking above all others
• Part of a bid
• Bid in contract bridge
• Contract arrived at by players rather than clubs, for example
• Disbelief expressed — Tory leader behind the bid
• Bid far from behind
• Call at table, suggesting preference for sirloin or T-bone?
• Highest bid in bridge
• A lack of time behind player's call?
• Bid cut after review of great deal