take a hint

idiom

: to understand what someone is suggesting when he or she says something in an indirect way
"I have a lot of work to do." "OK, I'll leave. I can take a hint."

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Oh, blackheads—the tiny, stubborn dots that just won’t take a hint. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 4 Feb. 2025 At this concrete plan, the man who can't take a hint finally gets into his car and leaves. — Lincee Ray, EW.com, 29 July 2023

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“Take a hint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20a%20hint. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025.

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