To hint at

To ‘hint at’ something is to suggest that something is true, or suggest that you want something, without saying it directly. Opinion polls before the British election hinted at a Conservative party victory, but they didn’t decisively forecast one because it was hard to tell how people would vote. If you don’t want to say something you want directly, you might hint at it. For example: Diana hinted at her desire for a raise, but didn’t ask for one directly.