HINT

(INDIRECT STATEMENT) [noun] [C] - a statement or action which expresses indirectly what a person thinks or wants and which allows another person to take no notice of it without causing offenceHe has dropped (= given) several strong hints to his boss that he will go and work for someone else if he doesn't get a pay increase. [+ that clause]Didn't she even give you a hint where she was going? [+ wh- word]I coughed politely as she lit her cigarette, but she didn't take (= understand) the hint, so I had to explain that it was a no-smoking restaurant.You just can't take a hint, can you? I wish you'd push off and leave me alone!