get/take the hint
idiom
: to understand what someone is suggesting when he or she says something in an indirect way
When she told me how much work she had to do, I got/took the hint and left.
Examples of get/take the hint in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Hopefully some studio executive out there will take the hint.
—
Katie Rife, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2022
Which means Freeman can’t take the hint: Given the length of those non-negotiations with Team Freeman, Braves officials didn’t want him.
—Terence Moore, Forbes, 25 June 2022
Merapi's Indonesian brethren did not take the hint, though, as Bromo in the Tengger Caldera continued to erupt throughout early December.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 4 Jan. 2011
The chatterbox will get the hint if multiple attendees perform a nudge to shut up maneuver.
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 25 Feb. 2023
Not sure if your situationship is gift-worthy, or worried your long-term boo won't get the hint this year?
—Town & Country, 6 Feb. 2023
Instead, executives believe poor performers will get the hint and leave.
—Ben Eisen, WSJ, 31 Oct. 2022
Barry, who during his playing days was once described by teammate Billy Paultz as a player whom half the league disliked and the other half hated, didn’t get the hint.
—Chad Finn, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Aug. 2022
Katie Rife, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2022
Which means Freeman can’t take the hint: Given the length of those non-negotiations with Team Freeman, Braves officials didn’t want him.
—Terence Moore, Forbes, 25 June 2022
Merapi's Indonesian brethren did not take the hint, though, as Bromo in the Tengger Caldera continued to erupt throughout early December.
—Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 4 Jan. 2011
The chatterbox will get the hint if multiple attendees perform a nudge to shut up maneuver.
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 25 Feb. 2023
Not sure if your situationship is gift-worthy, or worried your long-term boo won't get the hint this year?
—Town & Country, 6 Feb. 2023
Instead, executives believe poor performers will get the hint and leave.
—Ben Eisen, WSJ, 31 Oct. 2022
Barry, who during his playing days was once described by teammate Billy Paultz as a player whom half the league disliked and the other half hated, didn’t get the hint.
—Chad Finn, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Aug. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'get/take the hint.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Cite this Entry
“Get/take the hint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/get%2Ftake%20the%20hint. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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