HINT
ADJECTIVES
► SUBINDICATIVE indirectly indicative or suggestive → 1822 obs. obs.
NOUNS
► BUG IN ONE’S BONNET a hint, a friendly warning → 1965 Amer. dial.
► BUG IN ONE’S EAR a hint, a friendly warning → 1905 Amer. dial.
► BUG IN ONE’S HAT a hint, a friendly warning → 1965 Amer. dial.
► BUG IN ONE’S HEAD a hint, a friendly warning → 1965 Amer. dial.
► CART-WHEEL a broad hint → 19C sl.
► CHEEP a slight mention or hint; chiefly used in negative contexts → 1819
► CUE a hint of what is coming, a premonition → 1647 obs.
► FLEA IN ONE’S BONNET a hint, a warning; a rebuke → 1966 Amer. dial.
► FLEA IN ONE’S EAR a hint, a warning; a disquieting disclosure; a rebuke → 1822 Amer. dial.
► GRIFFIN a tip in betting, etc.; a hint, a signal → 1889 sl.
► HALF-WORD a word or speech which hints or insinuates something, instead of fully asserting it; a hint, suggestion → c1369
► HARD WORD, THE a hint, a tip-off; a piece of inside information; a password → 1804 colloq.
► INKLE a notion, hint, suspicion, an inkling → 1879 Eng. & Amer. dial.
► IRISH HINT a very broad hint → 1769 Amer. dial.
► ITEM a hint; an inkling; information; a signal; a cue → 1781 Eng. & Amer. dial.
► MEANING an intimation, a hint, likelihood; a slight symptom → 1839 Eng. dial.
► MEETH a hint, an innuendo → 1905 Sc. (Bk.)
► MIND a reminder, a hint → 1905 Sc. (Bk.)
► OBERING a hint, an inkling → 1824 Sc.
► OFFICE a hint, a tip, a private intimation → 1803 sporting sl.
► SIDE-WIPE an indirect rebuke, censure, or hint → 1757 Eng. dial.
► SLARE a hint; an implied reproach → 1886 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► SPARK a trace or hint
► STRAIGHT TIP, THE a direct hint on any subject → 1873 sl.
► SUBINDICATION a slight inclination or token → 1655-87 obs.
► TIP-OFF a hint or warning → colloq.
► UMBRAGE a suspicion, hint, inkling, or slight idea of a matter → 1654-66 obs.
► VENT a hint or whisper of something → 1613 obs.
► WRINKLE a helpful or valuable hint or piece of information → 1818 sl., orig. sporting usage
► WRINKLE ON ONE’S HORN, A a valuable hint → 1837
VERBS
► CHEEP to tell or reveal; to betray a secret; to mention, to hint at → 1903 Amer. dial.
► DROP to let fall a hint → E17
► DROP A BUG IN ONE’S EAR to tell one a secret or put one on to a secret; to give somebody a hint for his own good → 1965 Amer. dial.
► EVEN to impute, to suspect, to suggest, to hint at or charge with anything, used in a bad sense; to think entitled to, or deserving of, used in a good sense → 1844 Sc.
► GIVE SOMEONE THE OFFICE to give a hint or a warning → M18 sl.
► INKLE to warn; to give notice; to hint at; to disclose → 1340 Amer. thieves’ sl.
► MINT to hint at, to insinuate, to suggest; to mimic, to imitate → 1703 Sc. & Eng. dial.
► MOOT to mention, to suggest, to hint → 1684 Eng. dial.
► PAD to pass information ‘on the quiet’, to drop a hint in one’s ear, to inform, to tell → 1898 Sc.
► PULL ONE’S COAT to give someone a hint → 1968 African-American
► PUT A BUG IN ONE’S EAR to tell one a secret or put one on to a secret; to give somebody a hint for his own good → 1909 Amer. dial.
► SIGNIFY to hint at → 1513 obs.
► SUBINDICATE to indicate indirectly; to hint → 1659 obs.
► TIP SOMEONE THE WINK to give someone information or a vital hint → 1984 Aust. colloq. (Bk.)
Lexicophilia 