Hint - English meaning

idiom

Used when you are about to give a piece of advice or information to someone in an informal way

Usage examples:

A word to the wise: always check opening hours in advance., the store has a great cheese selection.…

noun

Guidance or recommendations offered with regard to prudent future action.

Usage examples:

My advice is to see your doctor

noun

An opinion that someone offers you about what you should do or how you should act in a particular situation

Usage examples:

I need some advice on which computer to buy., give someone advice steven gave me some good advice.,…

noun

An expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference.

Usage examples:

An allusion to shakespeare

noun

A brief or indirect reference

Usage examples:

He made some allusion to the years they lived apart.

noun

Something that is said or written that is intended to make you think of a particular thing or person

Usage examples:

The film is full of allusions to hitchcock., her novels are packed with literary allusions.

noun

A piece of evidence or information used in the detection of a crime.

Usage examples:

Police officers are still searching for clues

verb

Inform someone about a particular matter.

Usage examples:

Stella had clued her in about peter

noun

A sign or some information that helps you to find the answer to a problem, question, or mystery

Usage examples:

Look for a clue police are still looking for clues in their search for the missing girl., give some…

noun

A thing said or done that serves as a signal to an actor or other performer to enter or to begin their speech or performance.

Usage examples:

She had not yet been given her cue to come out on to the dais

verb

Give a cue to or for.

Usage examples:

Ros and guil, cued by hamlet, also bow deeply

verb

Use a cue to strike the ball.

Usage examples:

Mark cued well early on

collocation

To give someone a sign or some information that helps them to find the answer to a problem, question, or mystery

Usage examples:

I'm never going to guess the answer if you don't give me a clue., the discovery of the car gave the…

noun

A general rule, principle, or piece of advice.

Usage examples:

The organization has issued guidelines for people working with prisoners

noun

Information intended to advise people on how something should be done or what something should be

Usage examples:

Issue a guideline the eu has issued guidelines on appropriate levels of pay for part-time manual wo…

verb

Make it easier or possible for (someone) to do something by offering one's services or resources.

Usage examples:

They helped her with domestic chores

noun

The action of helping someone to do something.

Usage examples:

I asked for help from my neighbours

exclamation

Used as an appeal for urgent assistance.

Usage examples:

Help! i'm drowning!

adjective

Used to describe something that provides practical advice on a particular activity

Usage examples:

A how-to book/guide/article, i have a shelf full of how-tos, but i'm an expert on nothing.

verb

Indicate the truth or existence of (something) by suggestion rather than explicit reference.

Usage examples:

Salesmen who use jargon to imply superior knowledge

verb

To suggest something without saying it directly, or to involve something as a necessary part or condition

Usage examples:

[ + (that) clause ] he implied (that) the error was mine., democracy implies free elections.

verb

To communicate an idea or feeling without saying it directly

Usage examples:

[ + (that) ] are you implying (that) i'm fat?, i'm not implying anything about your cooking, but co…

verb

Point out; show.

Usage examples:

Dotted lines indicate the text's margins

verb

To show or signal a direction or warning, or to make something clear

Usage examples:

[ t ] these statistics might indicate quality problems., [ + that clause ] she did not move or indi…

verb

To show something, point to something, or make something clear

Usage examples:

Indicate sth to sb retailers should indicate to the consumer the exact weight of the produce., the …

noun

A sign or piece of information that indicates something.

Usage examples:

The visit was an indication of the improvement in relations between the countries

noun

A sign that something exists, is true, or is likely to happen

Usage examples:

An indication that there are few indications that the economy is on an upswing., an indication of s…

noun

A suitable action that is suggested by something

Usage examples:

The indication from the trade figures is to reduce stock by at least 30 percent.

noun

A thing that indicates the state or level of something.

Usage examples:

Car ownership is frequently used as an indicator of affluence

noun

A sign or signal that shows something exists or is true, or that makes something clear

Usage examples:

Housing permits are an indicator of the state’s economic health., the car’s speedometer and tempera…

noun

Something that shows what a situation is like or how it is changing

Usage examples:

Indicator of sth rising orders are an indicator of the health of the manufacturing sector., key/imp…

noun

A slight knowledge or suspicion; a hint.

Usage examples:

The records give us an inkling of how people saw the world

noun

A slight idea that something is true or likely to happen, although it is not certain

Usage examples:

She saw the look on nick’s face but had no inkling of what it meant.

noun

A feeling that something is true or likely to happen, although you are not certain

Usage examples:

[ + that ] i didn't have the slightest inkling that she was unhappy., inkling of he must have had s…

noun

An allusive or oblique remark or hint, typically a suggestive or disparaging one.

Usage examples:

She's always making sly innuendoes

noun

A remark that suggests something but does not refer to it directly, or this type of remark in general

Usage examples:

[ u ] the election campaign was marred by rumor and innuendo.

noun

(the making of) a remark or remarks that suggest something sexual or something unpleasant but do not refer to it directly

Usage examples:

Sexual innuendo there's always an element of sexual innuendo in our conversations.

verb

Suggest or hint (something bad) in an indirect and unpleasant way.

Usage examples:

He was insinuating that i had no self-control

verb

To express but not directly state something

Usage examples:

What exactly are you insinuating?, [ + (that) clause ] she insinuated (that) i’m getting fat., [ c …

verb

To suggest, without being direct, that something unpleasant is true

Usage examples:

[ + (that) ] are you insinuating (that) i'm losing my nerve?, what are you insinuating, daniel?

noun

An unpleasant hint or suggestion of something bad.

Usage examples:

I've done nothing to deserve all your vicious insinuations

noun

The action of suggesting, without being direct, that something unpleasant is true

Usage examples:

[ + that ] we resent these insinuations that we are not capable of leading the company forward., i …

adjective

Closely acquainted; familiar.

Usage examples:

Intimate friends

noun

A very close friend.

Usage examples:

His circle of intimates

verb

State or make known.

Usage examples:

Mr hutchison has intimated his decision to retire

noun

An indication or hint.

Usage examples:

The first intimations of trouble

noun

The action of making clear what you think or want without saying it directly, or something that makes something clear in this way

Usage examples:

His suicide attempt was the first intimation that he was seriously depressed., the book's title giv…

idiom

To make certain that people know something

Usage examples:

I let it be known that i was not happy about the decision that had been made.

verb

Refer to (something) briefly and without going into detail.

Usage examples:

I haven't mentioned it to william yet

noun

A reference to someone or something.

Usage examples:

Their eyes light up at a mention of sartre

verb

To speak about someone or something, esp. briefly and without giving much detail

Usage examples:

[ + (that) clause ] has he mentioned (that) he’s leaving his job?, i promised never to mention her …

collocation

An opinion that someone offers you about what you should do or how you should act in a particular situation

Usage examples:

Can i give you a piece of advice?, he offered a few useful pieces of advice for home buyers.

noun

A long, thin piece of metal on a scale or dial which moves to indicate a figure or position.

Usage examples:

If the pointer moves right, the wind is from the right

noun

Any of various things used for pointing, esp. a long, thin stick

Usage examples:

The lecturer used a pointer to show what part or the diagram he was referring to., the booklet give…

noun

Something that is used for pointing at things, for example a long thin stick that you hold to direct attention to a place on a map or words on a board, etc.

Usage examples:

A laser pointer, which directs a small spot of light onto the screen is ideal when you are giving a…

noun

A suggestion or proposal as to the best course of action, especially one put forward by an authoritative body.

Usage examples:

The committee put forward forty recommendations for change

noun

An object, quality, or event whose presence or occurrence indicates the probable presence or occurrence of something else.

Usage examples:

Flowers are often given as a sign of affection

verb

Write one's name on (a letter, card, document, etc.) to identify oneself as the writer or sender.

Usage examples:

The card was signed by the whole class

noun

A gesture, action, or sound that is used to convey information or instructions, typically by prearrangement between the parties concerned.

Usage examples:

The firing of the gun was the signal for a chain of beacons to be lit

verb

Convey information or instructions by means of a gesture, action, or sound.

Usage examples:

Hold your fire until i signal

adjective

Striking in extent, seriousness, or importance; outstanding.

Usage examples:

Their signal failure to achieve a satisfactory solution to the problem

verb

Put forward for consideration.

Usage examples:

I suggest that we wait a day or two

verb

To mention an idea, possible plan, or action for other people to consider

Usage examples:

They were wondering where to hold the office party and i suggested the italian restaurant on main s…

noun

An idea or plan put forward for consideration.

Usage examples:

Here are some suggestions for tackling the problem

noun

An idea, possible plan, or action that is mentioned for other people to consider

Usage examples:

[ c ] she made some helpful suggestions on how to cut our costs., [ c ] they didn’t like my suggest…

noun

The pointed or rounded end or extremity of something slender or tapering.

Usage examples:

George pressed the tips of his fingers together

verb

Attach to or cover the end or extremity of.

Usage examples:

The peaks of the mountains were tipped with snow

noun

A place where rubbish is left.

Usage examples:

A rubbish tip

verb

Speak very softly using one's breath rather than one's throat, especially for the sake of secrecy.

Usage examples:

Alison was whispering in his ear

noun

A soft or confidential tone of voice; a whispered word or phrase.

Usage examples:

She spoke in a whisper

verb

To say something very quietly, using the breath but not the voice

Usage examples:

[ i ] what are you girls whispering about?, they spoke in whispers, not wanting anyone to hear them.

noun

A slight line or fold in something, especially fabric or the skin of the face.

Usage examples:

She smoothed out the wrinkles from her skirt

verb

Make or cause lines or folds in (something, especially fabric or the skin).

Usage examples:

His hands and face were wrinkled by age

noun

A small line in the skin, or a small fold in cloth

Usage examples:

You need to iron out the wrinkles in your skirt., fig. we still need to iron out a few wrinkles (= …