Learn English – Expression for indirectly asking someone to do something

expressionsidioms

Could there be an English expression (a verb or an idiom) for indirectly asking someone to do something that you want them to do that you find it awkward to ask them to do?

For example, let's say you're in a restaurant. And the seats are full and your waiter wants you to eat your meal faster and make your seat available for other customers, because you're there like a couple of hours.

The waiter doesn't have the stomach to ask you to finish your meal already, so he is asking you whether you're done with your meal, in an effort to hint that he wants you to finish your meal ASAP.

Is there a single verb or an idiom describing the waiter's action in this type of situation?

For example, could there be a verb or an idiom that fits in with this sentence?

The waiter ____________ that he wants you to finish your meal ASAP.

I was thinking along the lines of the verb 'hint' or 'insinuate', but I was wondering if there could be verbs/idioms that are more fitting in this kind of situation.

Best Answer

I think that either hint or insinuate works quite well in this situation, and that you don't need to look for something else. Any different word is going to sound awkward and not be as natural a fit.

For instance, you could use euphemism:

[Merriam-Webster]

: the substitution of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant

As in:

The waiter used euphemisms to suggest you finish your meal ASAP.

But that's not as natural or meaningful as the simpler hint or insinuate.

That aside, the only idiom I can think that applies (and it's the opposite, although the situation could be adopted to include it anyway) is beat around the bush:

[Merriam-Webster]

beat about the bush or beat around the bush

: to fail or refuse to come to the point in discourse
// Stop beating around the bush and tell me what you want.

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