get/take the hint

idiom

: to understand what someone is suggesting when he or she says something in an indirect way

When she told me how much work she had to do, I got/took the hint and left.

Examples of get/take the hint in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Subtle Cues Of Displeasure: If leaders react negatively (even nonverbally) to dissent, people take the hint and stop challenging ideas. —Antonio Garrido, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025

Have you ever been trapped in an endless conversation with a colleague who won’t take the hint? —Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025

As for whether the neighbor will take the hint, Reddit users seem skeptical. —Matt Robison, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025

However, after significant turnover in the offseason, teams may now get the hint. —Ryan Morik, Fox News, 8 Feb. 2025

Why wouldn’t American politicians take the hint that Canada was just not that into them? —Lawrence B.a. Hatter / Made By History, TIME, 4 Feb. 2025

Opinion|The real reason the frenzy over Biden is so unsettling Today at 4:10 p.m. EDT Analysis|Pelosi and Democrats to Biden: Maybe take the hint, please? —Patrick Marley, Washington Post, 10 July 2024

Will his overbearing roommate take the hint and move out? —Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 11 July 2024

Opinion|The Kamala Harris calculus: What do Democrats gain or lose? July 7, 2024 Opinion|What do Democrats do now? July 8, 2024 More From The Post Analysis|Pelosi and Democrats to Biden: Maybe take the hint, please? —Perry Bacon, Washington Post, 10 July 2024