a veiled hint

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a veiled hint" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a suggestion or indication that is not directly stated, often implying something indirectly. Example: "During the meeting, she dropped a veiled hint about her plans to leave the company soon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

He said authorities had to get monetary and fiscal policy right, which analysts said was a veiled hint to the Bank of England to cut interest rates.

The Guardian - Business

On his return he published his De Motu (1721), which rejected Sir Isaac Newton's absolute space, time, and motion, gave a veiled hint of his immaterialism, and in the 20th century earned him the title "precursor of Mach and Einstein".

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

There was a very veiled hint on Tuesday, however, that the talks were not going well.

The New York Times

In fact, Pinterest backer Hiroshi Mikitani, CEO of Rakuten, recently alluded to The Fancy's movements in this area with a thinly veiled hint of disdain, telling Forbes, "there are so many copycats of Pinterest already who are focusing just on shopping but they are not getting as much attraction as Pinterest because they are too commercial".

TechCrunch

And as a bonus, they even throw in a few veiled hints that they could sue Google for copying their idea if they wanted to thanks to their "filed patent applications" and "first developed" "intellectual property".

TechCrunch

Neither that veiled hint of possible layoffs nor word of yet another committee could have been welcome.

Forbes

Since the first veiled hint of its existence in 2009, Destiny and the rumours around it had permeated all areas of gaming conversation: it cost half a billion dollars, it would be the largest open world game ever created, 500 people worked on it, Peter Dinklage narrated it.

Vice

While many of the titles on show will already be vaguely familiar to gamers, it's here that publishers – and console manufacturers – tend to make all their exciting new announcements, often spending the days beforehand whipping the specialist press up into an unseemly tizzy with veiled hints, teaser websites and the promise of 'behind-closed-doors' demos.

The Guardian - Tech

The "it" is the non-stop litany of of veiled and not so veiled hints, innuendoes, digs, and crass, snide, accusing comments, remarks, slander and outright lies about Bland's activities before, during and after her death.

Huffington Post

If he carries on with the veiled hints, it may be less soporific for a nation replete with turkey and pud than his mother's.

The Guardian - Opinion

And to speak with veiled hints of his own story  -- and hardly, just barely, a hint about policy.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a veiled hint" when you want to suggest something indirectly, leaving room for interpretation or plausible deniability. This works well in both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "a veiled hint" when a direct statement is more appropriate. Overusing it can make your communication seem evasive or confusing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a veiled hint" functions as a noun phrase, often acting as the object of a verb. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts, indicating its role in conveying subtle suggestions or implications.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a veiled hint" is a noun phrase used to describe an indirect suggestion or implication. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and usability, though it's relatively infrequent in occurrence. It's commonly found in news and media contexts, serving to convey subtle messages without explicit statements. When using this phrase, it's important to consider the appropriate level of subtlety for your audience and purpose, as overusing it can lead to confusion. The related phrases provided offer alternative ways to express similar ideas with varying degrees of directness and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a subtle suggestion

Replaces "hint" with "suggestion", emphasizing the indirect nature of the communication.

an indirect clue

Substitutes "veiled hint" with "indirect clue", focusing on the subtle and not-so-obvious nature of the clue.

a tacit implication

Uses "tacit implication" instead of "veiled hint", highlighting the unspoken nature of the suggestion.

a roundabout insinuation

Replaces the phrase with "a roundabout insinuation", emphasizing the indirect and perhaps slightly negative nature of the suggestion.

a delicate intimation

Employs "delicate intimation" to soften the suggestion and emphasize its subtlety.

a gentle nudge

Replaces "veiled hint" with "a gentle nudge", portraying a more playful and less serious form of indirect suggestion.

an oblique reference

Substitutes the phrase with "an oblique reference", emphasizing the indirect and angled nature of the reference.

an understated indication

Uses "an understated indication" to convey a subtle and not overly emphasized suggestion.

a coded message

Replaces "veiled hint" with "a coded message", suggesting that the hint requires decryption to be understood.

a suggestive remark

Focuses on the suggestive nature of the remark, implying something without stating it directly.

FAQs

How can I use "a veiled hint" in a sentence?

You can use "a veiled hint" when you want to imply something without stating it directly. For example, "She gave "a veiled hint" about her dissatisfaction with the project during the meeting."

What's the difference between "a veiled hint" and "a direct suggestion"?

"A veiled hint" is indirect and subtle, leaving room for interpretation, while "a direct suggestion" is explicit and straightforward.

What can I say instead of "a veiled hint"?

You can use alternatives like "a subtle suggestion", "an indirect clue", or "a tacit implication" depending on the context.

Is "a veiled hint" the same as "a threat"?

Not necessarily. "A veiled hint" is a subtle suggestion, whereas a threat, even if veiled, implies potential harm or negative consequences if certain conditions are not met.