leaving a hint

USAGE SUMMARY

"leaving a hint" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used when trying to suggest something without saying it directly. For example, "John was leaving a hint that he wanted to go out for dinner that night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

I wanted my gelée to taste clean and bright, leaving a hint of sweetness as it melts on the tongue.

The New York Times - Food

And while he guessed correctly that she was in no mood to be picked up, he simply could not leave her without leaving a hint.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But the wily Fleischers may have left a hint of Betty's scarlet past.

The New York Times

Welles's hyperbolic yet wistful voice-over in "The Lady from Shanghai" leaves a hint that its protagonist will go on to write his book; it doesn't suggest that he'll end up very happy.

The New Yorker

(Later in the same song, he leaves a hint as to how highly he regards the power of the voice: "I made 'To Pimp a Butterfly' for you / told me to use my vocals to save mankind for you / say I didn't try for you").

The New Yorker

This has to be one of the most handsome drinks in town: Davio's Manhattan makes the Albiccoca with tequila, apricot jam, lime juice, a drop of simple syrup and just three dashes of housemade habanero bitters, which leaves a hint of pepper on the tongue.

Huffington Post

Leave a hint at the beginning!

WikiHow

If you leave a hint, make it cryptic, or make it seem to point to another password entirely.

WikiHow

Farooq Bhoja, the head of the airline, has been barred from leaving the country—a hint that a criminal investigation may be on the way.

The Economist

"Every contact leaves a trace": Locard's observation hints at the rigours involved in the application of science to crime-solving.

The Guardian - Books

Monasteries such as Ganden, which Mr. Kurlantzick visited and described as "a living, working house of worship," were in fact pounded into rubble by Chinese artillery after the Tibetan uprising in 1959, leaving only a hint of what they had once been.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "leaving a hint", ensure the context provides enough information for the audience to infer the intended meaning. Subtlety is key, but clarity is also important.

Common error

Avoid making the hint too vague or cryptic. If the intended message is lost, the effort to be subtle becomes ineffective. Provide just enough information to guide, not confuse.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leaving a hint" functions as a gerund phrase, often used as part of a verb phrase to describe an action or process of subtly suggesting something. As Ludwig AI shows, this usually involves indirect communication.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "leaving a hint" functions as a gerund phrase that suggests something indirectly. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and use across various sources, predominantly in news and media, and wiki contexts. Related phrases such as "hinting at something" or "dropping a clue" offer similar nuanced ways to convey information. When using the phrase, subtlety is key, but make sure you are providing enough context for your audience to grasp the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hinting at something

Uses 'hinting' as a verb, emphasizing the action of suggesting subtly.

dropping a clue

Focuses on providing a piece of information subtly.

offering a suggestion

Implies a more direct, but still gentle, form of guidance.

implying a message

Highlights the act of conveying something indirectly through implication.

giving an indication

Emphasizes the act of showing or pointing out something subtly.

suggesting an idea

Focuses on the indirect presentation of a concept or thought.

providing a sign

Highlights the act of giving a tangible signal or indicator.

offering a glimmer

Implies a slight, indirect indication.

leaving an impression

Focuses on the after-effect of an action, where the clue is not necessarily intentional.

planting a seed

Emphasizes subtly introducing an idea for future consideration.

FAQs

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

You can use "leaving a hint" to describe the act of subtly suggesting something. For example, "She was /s/leaving+a+hint that she wanted a promotion."

What does "leaving a hint" mean?

"Leaving a hint" means indirectly suggesting something, not stating it directly.

What are some alternatives to "leaving a hint"?

Alternatives include "hinting at something", "dropping a clue", or "implying a message".

When is it appropriate to use "leaving a hint"?

It's appropriate to use "leaving a hint" when you want to suggest something without being too direct, perhaps to test the waters or avoid confrontation.