- hint
- {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun1 suggestionADJECTIVE▪ big, broad, clear (esp. BrE), heavy, not-so-subtle (esp. AmE), obvious, strong▪
He gave a broad hint that he was on the verge of leaving.
▪ gentle, little, subtle, vague▪ tantalizing▪ dark (esp. BrE)▪ early▪There were early hints that their marriage might be in trouble.
VERB + HINT▪ drop, give (sb)▪I dropped a few subtle hints about the payment being due.
▪ catch (AmE), get, take▪OK, I get the hint!
▪Can't you take a hint and leave me alone?
PREPOSITION▪ hint about▪ hint from▪a hint from my boss about my absences from the office
▪ hint to▪Is that a hint to me to leave?
2 small amount of sthADJECTIVE▪ strong▪a dish with a strong hint of garlic
▪ barest, faint, little, merest, slightest, small, tiny▪The slightest hint of gossip upset her.
▪ occasional▪ first▪She felt the first hint of panic as the train pulled into the station.
VERB + HINT▪ detect, notice, sense▪Do I detect a hint of jealousy in your voice?
▪ show▪He showed not a hint of remorse.
▪ betray, reveal▪Her voice betrayed a hint of uneasiness.
PREPOSITION▪ hint of▪There was a hint of amusement in his voice.
PHRASES▪ at the first hint of sth▪At the first hint of trouble I'll call the police.
3 piece of adviceADJECTIVE▪ handy, helpful, practical, useful▪ householdVERB + HINT▪ give (sb), offer (sb)PREPOSITION▪ hint about▪The book gives some useful hints about how to plan your garden.
▪ hint on▪{{Roman}}II.{{/Roman}}a book full of handy hints on painting
verbADVERB▪ broadly, heavily (esp. BrE), strongly▪He hinted strongly that he would be resigning soon.
▪ subtly▪ darkly▪She hinted darkly that all was not well.
▪ even▪She even hinted that she might resign.
▪ merely, onlyPREPOSITION▪ at▪The problems are only hinted at in the report.
Collocations dictionary. 2013.
