Dictionary

read between the lines en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

Probably from glosses and commentaries which were written between the lines and provided the reader with additional information not explicitly stated in the text.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) To infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly.
   • The next day he made incantation, and distorted the miracle of the loaves and fishes till it became prophecy, and I, reading between the lines, saw that it was aimed at the wealth of meat stored in my caches. 1901, Jack London, “A Hyperborean Brew: […]”, in The Faith of Men and Other Stories, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., published September 1904, →OCLC, pages 54–55:
   • “I’m quite of your opinion,” Miss Van Vluyck came briskly to her support; “on condition, that is, that all grossness of language is avoided.” “Oh, I’m sure we shall understand without that,” Mrs. Leveret tittered; and Laura Glyde added significantly: “I fancy we can read between the lines,” while Mrs. Ballinger rose to assure herself that the doors were really closed. 1911, Edith Wharton, Xingu:
   • “Yes. And if you had as much sense as the talking parrot I owned once you would have read between the lines that all I wanted you here for was to tell you what I think of you.” 1919, Joseph Conrad, chapter IV, in The Arrow of Gold: A Story between Two Notes, London: T[homas] Fisher Unwin, […], →OCLC, part IV, page 186:
   • “Trust is as trust does. I tend to be extremely literal in what I say … One does not [need]^([sic]) to read between the lines. One can simply read the lines,” Musk said in the meeting, according to a tweet from Nola Weinstein, Twitter’s global head of brand experiences and engagement. 2022 June 16, Kari Paul, quoting Elon Musk, “In rare move, Elon Musk meets Twitter employees to give ‘freedom of speech’ address”, in The Guardian:
   • If you read between the lines a little, you will realize that he has deeper motives.
   • If you could see behind my eyes / You'd see the truth inside the lies / And if you read between the lines / You'd see I'm running from my mind 2024, Jackie Evancho, “Behind My Eyes”, in Solla:
   • I know you read between the lines / When them up there say it's all fine 1982, Andy Hill, Peter Sinfield, “Twentieth Century Hero”, in Are You Ready, performed by Bucks Fizz:

Forms

Translations (44)

sh čìtati ȉzmeđu rȇdākā (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · lt skaityti tarp eilučių (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · pl czytać między wierszami (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · es leer entre líneas (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · it leggere tra le righe (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · mk чита меѓу редови (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · uk чита́ти між рядка́ми (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · sh čìtati ȉzmeđu rȅdōvā (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · gd leugh eadar na sreathan (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · be чыта́ць памі́ж радко́ў (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · ja 行間を読む (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · eo legi inter la linioj (legi interlinie) (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · hu olvas a sorok között (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · fr lire entre les lignes (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · de zwischen den Zeilen lesen (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · et ridade vahelt lugema (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · it leggere fra le righe (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · ml ഒളിച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന അർത്ഥങ്ങൾ കണ്ടുപിടിക്കുക (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · sk čítať medzi riadkami (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · sl brati med vrsticami (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · tr satır aralarını okumak (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · bg чета́ между́ редове́те (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · sv läsa mellan raderna (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · sh чѝтати и̏змеђу ре̑да̄ка̄ (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · uk чита́ти між рядкі́в (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · nl tussen de regels door lezen (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · ar قَرَأَ مَا بَيْنَ السُّطُور (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · lv lasīt starp rindām (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · da læse mellem linjerne (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · pt ler nas entrelinhas (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · he קרא בין השורות (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · he קרא בין השיטין (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · az sətirarası oxumaq (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · cmn 體會言外之意 /体会言外之意 (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · is lesa á milli línanna (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · sh чѝтати и̏змеђу ре̏до̄ва̄ (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · eu lerro artean irakurri (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · ast lleer ente llínies (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · ro citi printre rânduri (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · ru чита́ть ме́жду строк (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · nb lese mellom linjene (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · cs číst mezi řádky (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · ko 행간을 읽다 (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly) · fi lukea rivien välistä (infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly)