English Reference
Idiom idiom

Irish hint

Meaning

A very clear and unsubtle indication.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Examples
SIMPLE

“He gave me an Irish hint that he wanted to leave early.”

CONTEXTUAL

“She kept looking at her watch and sighing, giving me an Irish hint that the meeting should end.”

COMPLEX

“The host offered an Irish hint by pointedly clearing the dinner table, signaling to his lingering guests that the evening had concluded.”

Anchors to
Related idioms3entries
  1. 01

    drop a hint

    To reveal a clue or hint about something.

  2. 02

    take the hint

    Concede to mounting evidence; wake up and smell the coffee.

  3. 03

    weep Irish

    To cry insincerely or in an exaggerated manner.

Last updated August 10, 2026