To take a hint means to understand an indirect suggestion and do what is expected. It is most often said about someone who doesn't notice that it's time to leave or stop bothering someone: He just can't take a hint. The expression is informal; when a specific hint has already been given, say take the hint.
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take the hint (and + verb); can't/couldn't take a hint; get the hint; drop a hint
- I kept looking at my watch, and eventually my guest took the hint and left.
- She hasn't answered his messages for a week, so why can't he take a hint?
- When the manager mentioned the budget twice, the team took the hint and cut costs.
What changed
First versionHe didn't understand the hint and stayed at our place until midnight.
RevisionHe didn't take the hint and stayed at our place until midnight.
Understand the hint seems logical, but native speakers rarely say it: hint goes with take and, in conversation, get. Also, take the hint means not only understanding but acting on it. Only the verb was changed.
Don't mix up the two sides of a hint. Drop a hint means to give a hint yourself: She dropped a hint about what she wanted for her birthday. Take a hint means to understand someone else's hint.
Your turn
I yawned and said it was getting late, but my neighbour didn't ___ and kept talking.
Show the answer
take the hint — The speaker was the one hinting, by yawning and saying it was late. The neighbour didn't understand it, so the missing phrase is take the hint. Drop a hint would mean the neighbour was supposed to do the hinting.
Think of a time someone did or didn't take your hint. Write what you were hinting at and what the person did.
I kept mentioning that the office printer was broken, and my boss finally took the hint and ordered a new one.
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