allude to that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "allude to that" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It means to refer to something indirectly or to hint at something without explicitly stating it. Example: In her speech, the politician alluded to the recent controversy surrounding her opponent without mentioning it by name.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

The palm is also associated with Christ's Passion, and the ominous Australian pictures, one of which is called "Nazareth" and another "The Power and the Glory," might allude to that.

The New York Times - Arts

EH: We allude to that.

Huffington Post

I tried to allude to that and there are a lot of pictures of her and things that are related to her, but I make no effort to point the finger or take a side.

Vice

He would later allude to that experience in "For Esmé — With Love and Squalor".

The New York Times - Books

His campaign spots allude to that profane Rahmbo style that Andy Samberg parodies on "Saturday Night Live".

The New York Times

Silver seemed to allude to that Thursday when he said it was "never accurate" to say that the sides had not exchanged new proposals since June 30.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Ms. Dolan alluded to that fact in her statement.

The New York Times

It is not, and James' statement was simply alluding to that.

The New York Times

The president alluded to that on Tuesday, saying it should not take a "timer ticking down" to disaster to get Republicans and Democrats to work together.

The New York Times

At a rough 20% cut, a figure Valleywag notes Kalanick has alluded to, that would place Uber's slice of the revenue around $213M a year.

TechCrunch

Rains alluded to that.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "allude to that" when you want to reference something without explicitly stating it, allowing the audience to draw their own conclusions.

Common error

Avoid confusing "allude to that", which means to indirectly refer to something, with "illusion", which refers to a deceptive appearance or false impression.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "allude to that" functions as a verb phrase used to indirectly reference something previously mentioned or understood. This construction allows the speaker or writer to hint at something without explicitly stating it.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "allude to that" is a grammatically correct and functional way to indirectly reference something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to hint at a subject without explicitly stating it. While not as common as more direct alternatives, it finds frequent use in news, media, and science, lending a touch of formality and subtlety. When writing, it's important to remember that "allude to that" should not be confused with "illusion", and that its purpose is to invite the audience to make connections rather than spelling everything out.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make an allusion to that

More formal and direct in stating that an allusion is being made, compared to simply alluding.

hint at that

Focuses on a subtle suggestion or implication, less direct than "allude to that".

refer to that indirectly

Emphasizes the indirect nature of the reference, making it more explicit than simply alluding.

make an indirect reference to that

Similar to 'refer to that indirectly', but with a stronger emphasis on the act of making a reference.

imply that

Focuses on suggesting something without explicitly stating it, similar to alluding but can be broader.

suggest that

Like 'imply that', it involves putting forward an idea indirectly, often used when offering a possible explanation.

intimate that

Suggests a more subtle and delicate way of hinting at something, often used for sensitive topics.

insinuate that

Often carries a negative connotation, suggesting something unpleasant in an indirect way.

touch upon that

Indicates a brief and often superficial mention of something, less detailed than an allusion.

drop a hint about that

Informal and suggests a casual way of giving a clue or suggestion.

FAQs

How can I use "allude to that" in a sentence?

You can use "allude to that" when you want to refer to something indirectly, such as, "The speaker chose to "allude to that" controversial topic rather than address it directly."

What's the difference between "allude to that" and "refer to that"?

"Allude to that" implies an indirect reference, while "refer to that" suggests a more direct and explicit mention. Alluding is subtler than referring.

What can I say instead of "allude to that"?

You can use alternatives like "hint at that", "imply that", or "suggest that" depending on the context and the level of indirection you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "allude to that" in formal writing?

Yes, "allude to that" is appropriate for formal writing when you need to reference something indirectly without explicitly stating it. It maintains a level of sophistication suitable for academic or professional contexts.