n (1)暗(提)示(suggestion or implication given in an indirect or subtle manner)[C]：give sb a/the～that one would like to leave 向某人暗示自己要走;have several～s from friends 得到朋友几次暗示;throw out～s 发出暗示;give no～of one's plans 没有暗示自己的计划;〖同〗tip;

(2)迹象(small sign or amount)[C]：There was a～of sadness/fear in her voice.她的声音里透出一丝凄凉/恐惧。There was a～of spring in the morning air. 清晨的空气中有一丝春天的气息。the first～of dawn 第一缕曙光;speak with a～of German accent 讲话时略带一点儿德国口音;〖同〗trace;

(3)有益的忠告(指点)(piece of helpful advice，suggestion (about how to do sth))[C，通常pl]：The magazine gives the useful～s on decorating a house.这本杂志就如何装饰房间提供有用的建议。gardening～园艺指南;〖同〗tip;

drop a hint 间接地或策略地提出建议;暗示：He dropped a number of～s in my ear about what had been happening in the office while I was away. 他悄悄地在我耳边嘀咕了几句，告诉我在我不在的时候，办公室里发生的事情。

take a hint 接受别人的暗示;会意：I can take a～;you clearly don't want me here so I'll go.我领会你的暗示。很明显，你不想让我待在这儿，所以我要走了。

v 暗(提)示，示意(suggest or mention indirectly，try to pass on information without stating it openly or directly)[I+prep (at)，T+n，D+n+prep(to)，D+n+that]：～at sb's imprudence/sb's inefficiency/sb's misfortunes 暗示某人的轻率/效率低/不幸;The incident～ed the possiblity of his resignation from his position.这一事件暗示他有可能辞去现在的职务。glances that～of one's romantic interest in sb 暗示着对某人热恋的几瞥;～about the purpose of sb's visit 示意某人来访的目的;～(to sb) that things were not going well(向某人)暗示事情进展不顺利;

【辨异】hint和intimate都表示间接地、不全面地或没有明确表达的一个想法。hint指暗地里或间接地、但却是使对方能懂地传达一个想法，例如：to hint that one would like a certain present(暗示自己想要某种礼物);intimate(暗示，提示)指公开地提出一种可理解的提示，通常具有影响作用的目的，例如：intimate that something may be possible(提示有些情况会是可能的)。