Understanding Implied Meaning Flashcards

A customer says to a salesperson, 'I'll think about it.' What does this most commonly imply?

Answer: They are not interested but are being polite.

'I'll think about it' is a common polite way to decline without directly saying no.

In a job interview, the interviewer says, 'We have several strong candidates.' What does this hint to the applicant?

Answer: The applicant faces significant competition.

Mentioning 'several strong candidates' implies the applicant should not assume they will get the job.

A neighbor says, 'Your dog must be very energetic at night.' What is the implied message?

Answer: Your dog's noise is disturbing their sleep.

Commenting on the dog being 'energetic at night' politely implies it is noisy and causing a disturbance.

Someone says, 'Not everyone could pull off that hairstyle.' What do they most likely mean?

Answer: The hairstyle suits the person despite being unusual.

This backhanded compliment implies the style is bold or unusual but that this particular person manages to wear it well.

A colleague asks, 'Did you get a chance to read my email from last week?' What are they really communicating?

Answer: They want to remind you to respond to their message.

The phrase 'did you get a chance' is a polite way of nudging someone to respond to an ignored message.

A host says, 'Please, don't feel like you have to stay.' What does this phrase really mean?

Answer: The host is asking the guest to leave.

This polite phrase is a subtle signal that the host is ready for the guest to leave.

A classmate says after an exam, 'I'm sure I passed... probably.' What does the addition of 'probably' imply?

Answer: They are actually uncertain about passing.

Adding 'probably' undermines the earlier statement of confidence, revealing underlying doubt.