Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in
 
read between the lines

read between the lines

Date: Jul 26 2007

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

“It’s un-American not to read between the lines and question everything. I love America, but if you want it to be a great nation, you have to be critical of it.”

- Author, talk show host, former Black Flag vocalist Henry Rollins on his frequent criticism of President George W. Bush. (HARP Magazine)

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

to find hidden meanings; to look past what is said to find truth

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

The origin of the phrase read between the lines is pretty simple. It refers to lines of words on a page, and how sometimes all the meaning in a document isn’t contained in the words. You have to infer the message. But people often have to read between the lines when talking to one another as well, especially in complicated social situations like dating and diplomacy.

Henry Rollins often expresses disagreement with United States foreign policy on his television show, The Henry Rollins Show. He believes that Americans ought to read between the lines and not necessarily believe that everything the government or the media says is the whole truth. In fact, he says it’s un-American not to read between the lines because the US was founded on questioning leaders.

Examples

1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.

“She didn’t exactly say I had the job, but it was easy to read between the lines.”

“Sheri isn’t very direct with people. If you want to know if she likes you or not, you’ll have to read between the lines

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

interpret what is implied
by periwinkle.chic
find a deeper meaning of a statement
by shirl
find the true/underlying meaning of something in a paper, file etc.
by ok-sqn
rubie91 able to nderstand what is hidden
by rubie91
It means to guess things which somebody didn't say directly- to try to understand what it meant by something that is not written openly.
by anetka77
maysam007 Guess what someone's real thoughts, feelings, or intentions from what you hear or read.
by maysam007
Y.Furu to realize a real meaning from what you hear or read which does not directly mean it
by Y.Furu
danny_lary to go further in the understanding that what is said.
by danny_lary
ElBeam To understand a real meaning of something, which can't be expressed directly.
by ElBeam
It is to try understand what is hidden in something that was writen or said.
by Serpiro
liru to understand a word or thought that has been implied but not expressed.
by liru
osatoga It means to understand other meanings implied in the main message that are not obvious.
by osatoga
To find more meaning than the words appear to express.
by Memory
travism Guess what someone's real thoughts, feelings, or intentions from what you hear or read. If you read between the lines, you understand the real meaning of something a person says or writes even though you are not given details.
by travism
birsencan catch the details,understand what is hidden behind the sentences...
by birsencan
Try to understand the real message "hiden" in a phrase or act. What something really tried to say when talking or acting.
by TSX32
What was not said, but it´s implicit into the message.
by daniloprates
read what is implied but not expressed on the surface;detect an obscure or unexpressed meaning, which is easy to guess.
by gumpa
understand what is indirectly written, hidden meaning
by carlosbertholdi
figure out things that are not so obvious
by driyam
go in depth.. listen what is not said..
by shiba.anand
to understandthe hidden message
by wonkapet
Delphin secret sense/meaning
by Delphin

Want to guess next week's slang?

The iTEP® test

  • Schedule an iTEP® test and take the official English Practice Test.

    Take Now >

Comments

Log in to Comment

christina_liu

China

got a deep insight of something

11:02 AM Oct 17 2007 |

mmahfeli

mmahfeli

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

to get an unclear hint.

11:32 PM Oct 08 2007 |

sixyofo

sixyofo

Taiwan

awwwesome

08:41 AM Jul 30 2007 |

noory

Saudi Arabia

that truth because if didn’t read every thing you can understand the subject

12:33 AM Jul 28 2007 |

serhat87

serhat87

United States

it is so beneficial ı use this part of website

09:18 PM Jul 26 2007 |

abdeeq

abdeeq

Somalia

Meaning some differents…

04:06 PM Jul 26 2007 |

explorer143

Pakistan

if you understand it it’s your Psyche!

07:02 AM Jul 26 2007 |

usif

usif

Saudi Arabia

to glance some meaning not mentioned

05:53 AM Jul 26 2007 |

Johnny bai

Johnny bai

China

it’s phrase i don’t know before. Now I can say to my gf – I don’t ofter say I love you, but it’s clear to read between the lines :)

04:58 AM Jul 26 2007 |

Likes (66):

See all >

Share this lesson:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Bebo
  • Share on Myspace
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this to a friend
  • Share on Sina

Post Ebaby! lessons on your blog:

Ebaby! Cast