Cue, as defined in Merriam Webster:
Definition of cue
1
a : a signal (such as a word, phrase, or bit of stage business) to a performer to begin a specific speech or action That last line is
your cue to exit the stage.b : something serving a comparable purpose : [HINT] I'll take that yawn as my cue to leave.
I feel CUE has the similar meaning as HINT in this case. Can we say:
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That last line is your hint to exit the stage.
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I'll take that yawn as my hint to leave.
I am not sure if these two words have some overlaps in meaning. Or sometimes they are interchangeable in some circumstances?
Best Answer
They have some overlap in meaning but they're not the same.
A hint is a thing used to help discover unknown or forgotten information. A cue is more about coordinating timing. The common idiom "I'm waiting for my cue" means that I know what to do but am waiting for the signal to do it.
Don't confuse "cue" with "clue".
In your examples:
The actor knows that they need to leave the stage. The cue let's them know the right time. It would only be a hint if the actor didn't know what to do.
The yawn is more of a hint because it carries the message that the person is sleepy and it is a good idea to leave. It is a cue in the sense that the person is intending to leave and the yawn signals that now is the right time.