Tra từ hint - Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

hint [hint hints hinted hinting] noun, verb BrE [hɪnt] NAmE [hɪnt]
noun
1. something that you say or do in an indirect way in order to show sb what you are thinking
•He gave a broad hint (= one that was obvious) that he was thinking of retiring.
•Should I drop a hint (= give a ↑hint ) to Matt?
•He resented any hint that he might be to blame.
2. something that suggests what will happen in the future
Syn: ↑sign
•At the first hint of trouble, they left.
•The opening scene gives us a hint of things to come.
3. usually singular ~ (of sth) a small amount of sth
Syn: ↑suggestion, Syn: ↑trace
•a hint of a smile
•There was more than a hint of sadness in his voice.
•The walls were painted white with a hint of peach.
•Gail searched his face for the slightest hint of regret.
4. usually plural ~ (on sth) a small piece of practical information or advice
Syn: ↑tip
•handy hints on saving money
•The teacher's book gives useful hints on how to develop reading skills.

Word Origin:
early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘occasion, opportunity’): apparently from obsolete hent ‘grasp, get hold of’, from Old English hentan, of Germanic origin; related to ↑hunt. The basic notion is “something that may be taken advantage of”.

Example Bank:
•At the first hint of trouble, I will call the police.
•Can't you take a hint and leave me alone?
•Do I detect a hint of jealousy in your voice?
•He gave a broad hint that he was on the verge of leaving.
•He showed not a hint of remorse.
•Her voice betrayed a hint of uneasiness.
•I dropped a few subtle hints about the payment being due.
•Is that a hint to me to leave?
•OK, I get the hint!
•She felt the first hint of panic as the train pulled into the station.
•The book gives some useful hints about how to plan your garden.
•The slightest hint of gossip upset her.
•There was a hint of amusement in his voice.
•There were early hints that their marriage might be in trouble.
•a book full of handy hints on painting and decorating
•a dish with a strong hint of garlic
•a hint from my boss about my absences from the office
•‘It won't take long,’ he persisted, without the slightest hint of apology.
•He vowed that no hint of scandal would ever be attached to him.
•Her eyes held a hint of mockery.
•It gives handy hints about what to buy at the local market.
•That was the first hint we had that things were going wrong.
•The teacher's book gives useful hints on how to develop reading skills.
•The walls were painted with a hint of peach.
Idiom: ↑take a hint

verb intransitive, transitive
to suggest sth in an indirect way
•~ at sth What are you hinting at?
•~ (that)… They hinted (that) there might be more job losses.
•+ speech ‘I might know something about it,’ he hinted.
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
early 17th cent. (in the sense ‘occasion, opportunity’): apparently from obsolete hent ‘grasp, get hold of’, from Old English hentan, of Germanic origin; related to ↑hunt. The basic notion is “something that may be taken advantage of”.

Example Bank:
•He hinted strongly that he would be resigning soon.
•She even hinted that she might resign.
•She hinted darkly that all was not well.
•The problems are only hinted at in the report.