take a hint

take a hint
take a hint
to understand a hint and behave accordingly. •

I said I didn't want to see you anymore. Can't you take a hint? I don't like you.

Sure I can take a hint, but I'd rather be told directly.

* * *
{v. phr.} To understand an allusion or a suggestion and behave accordingly. * /"I don't like people who smoke," she said. "Can't you take a hint and either quit smoking or seeing me?"/

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • take a hint — take a (or the) hint understand and act on a hint she tried to put him off but he didn t take the hint * * * take a/the ˈhint idiom to understand what sb wants you to do even though they tell you in an indirect way • I thought they d never go… …   Useful english dictionary

  • take a hint — {v. phr.} To understand an allusion or a suggestion and behave accordingly. * / I don t like people who smoke, she said. Can t you take a hint and either quit smoking or seeing me? / …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • take the hint — take a/the ˈhint idiom to understand what sb 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. Main entry: ↑hintidiom …   Useful english dictionary

  • take a hint — to understand or do something that is communicated indirectly. I can take a hint – if you don t want to talk about it, that s OK with me. “Weren t you going to check your messages?” she asked. I took the hint and left …   New idioms dictionary

  • take\ a\ hint — v. phr. To understand an allusion or a suggestion and behave accordingly. I don t like people who smoke, she said. Can t you take a hint and either quit smoking or seeing me? …   Словарь американских идиом

  • take a hint — verb To understand an indirect suggestion, and to act on it Syn: get the hint …   Wiktionary

  • take the hint — verb Concede to mounting evidence; wake up and smell the coffee …   Wiktionary

  • take a hint — understand what is being hinted …   English contemporary dictionary

  • hint — [hint] n. [prob. var. of HENT] 1. a slight indication of a fact, wish, etc.; indirect suggestion or piece of advice; intimation; covert allusion [a hint that we should leave] 2. a very small amount or degree; trace [a hint of spice] 3. Obs. an… …   English World dictionary

  • hint — hint1 [hınt] n [Date: 1600 1700; Origin: Probably from hent act of seizing (16 17 centuries), from Old English hentan to seize ] 1.) something that you say or do to suggest something to someone, without telling them directly ▪ There have been… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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