“Hint” is a noun and a verb. To hint at something to a mortal is to give someone a clue (pista) or tip, or to “make an allusion to” (dar a entender) something. Please mull over (mull over = reflexionar sobre) the following.
- Why cannot you take a hint (¿por qué no puedes entender una indirecta?)?
- A hint (un consejo): improve your use of idioms.
- Do you get the hint?
If something has a “hint of…” it means there is a small amount. Consider these:
- There was not a hint of sugar (ni una pizca de azúcar en…) in the organic chocolate.
- The pasta sauce has a hint of basil (…un toque de albahaca).
Now, as a verb.
- Mr. Sanchez, the Spanish Prime Minister, has hinted at the possibility (…ha dado a entender…) of an election in January.
- Mr. Podemos yesterday hinted (…ayer dio a entender…) that he wanted to return to politics.
So, perhaps you drop a hint to somebody sometimes, take a hint, and notice a hint of a herb or a flavour in a dish.
