riːd bɪˈtwiːn ðə laɪnz
General
neutral
beginner
- Literally:
- Reading in the spaces between written lines
What does "read between the lines" mean?
- To understand hidden or implied meanings
- To perceive what is not explicitly stated
Examples
- If you read between the lines, you'll see she's unhappy.
- Reading between the lines, I think they want us to resign.
- You need to read between the lines in politics.
Origin
From cryptography where secret messages were written between visible lines using invisible ink. Also from diplomatic communication.
How to use it
Important skill for understanding subtle communication. Common in professional and social contexts.
Similar expressions
infer
deduce
perceive the subtext
get the hint
Opposites
take at face value
interpret literally
Related idioms
- actions speak louder than words
What people do is more important than what they say
- better safe than sorry
It's better to be careful and prevent problems than to take risks
- so far so good
Things have gone well up to now
- easier said than done
Something is more difficult to do than to talk about
- make a long story short
To summarize or get to the point
- to make matters worse
In addition to existing problems
Use it in a practice answer
Try "read between the lines" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.