- something that you say or do in an indirect way in order to show somebody what you are thinking
- He gave a broad hint (= one that was obvious) that he was thinking of retiring.
- Should I drop a hint (= give a hint) to Matt?
- He resented any hint that he might be to blame.
Extra Examples- He gave a broad hint that he was on the verge of leaving.
- I dropped a few subtle hints about the payment being due.
- Is that a hint to me to leave?
- OK, I get the hint!
- a hint from my boss about my absences from the office
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- broad
- clear
- …
- drop
- give (somebody)
- catch
- …
- hint about
- hint from
- hint to
- …
- something that suggests what will happen in the future synonym sign
- At the first hint of trouble, they left.
- The opening scene gives us a hint of things to come.
Extra ExamplesTopics Suggestions and advicec1- There were early hints that their marriage might be in trouble.
- At the first hint of trouble, I will call the police.
- That was the first hint we had that things were going wrong.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- big
- broad
- clear
- …
- drop
- give (somebody)
- catch
- …
- hint about
- hint from
- hint to
- …
- [usually singular] hint (of something) a small amount of something synonym suggestion, trace
- a hint of a smile
- There was more than a hint of sadness in his voice.
- The walls were painted white with a hint of peach.
- Gail searched his face for the slightest hint of regret.
Extra Examples- Do I detect a hint of jealousy in your voice?
- He showed not a hint of remorse.
- Her voice betrayed a hint of uneasiness.
- She felt the first hint of panic as the train pulled into the station.
- The slightest hint of gossip upset her.
- a dish with a strong hint of garlic
- ‘It won't take long,’ he persisted, without the slightest hint of apology.
- There was a hint of amusement in his voice.
- He vowed that no hint of scandal would ever be attached to him.
- Her eyes held a hint of mockery.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- strong
- barest
- faint
- …
- detect
- notice
- sense
- …
- hint of
- at the first hint of something
- [usually plural] hint (on something) a small piece of practical information or advice synonym tip
- handy hints on saving money
- The teacher’s book gives useful hints on how to develop reading skills.
Extra ExamplesTopics Suggestions and advicec1- It gives handy hints about what to buy at the local market.
- The book gives some useful hints about how to plan your garden.
- a book full of handy hints on painting and decorating
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- handy
- helpful
- practical
- …
- give (somebody)
- offer (somebody)
- hint about
- hint on
Word Originearly 17th cent. (in the sense ‘occasion, opportunity’): apparently from obsolete hent ‘grasp, get hold of’, from Old English hentan, of Germanic origin; related to hunt. The basic notion is “something that may be taken advantage of”.
Idioms
See hint in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee hint in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishtake a/the hint
- to understand what somebody wants you to do even though they tell you in an indirect way
- I thought they'd never go—some people just can't take a hint.
- Sarah hoped he'd take the hint and leave her alone.
- Can't you take a hint and leave me alone?
Check pronunciation:
hint