Definition

1. Verb:
   • To send word (indirectly): To communicate one's intention, interest, or a piece of information through an intermediary or in an indirect, often discreet, manner.
   • To hint / to signal: To give a subtle indication or suggestion about something, typically to gauge interest or initiate a delicate process without making a direct, formal statement.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Gia đình cô ấy đã đánh tiếng muốn tìm một đối tác kinh doanh. (Her family sent word that they wanted to find a business partner.)
  • Họ đánh tiếng là sẵn sàng thương lượng. (They hinted that they were ready to negotiate.)
  • Ông ấy đánh tiếng cho bên kia biết ý định của mình. (He signaled his intention to the other side.)

Advanced Usage

• This term is often used in contexts involving sensitive social arrangements, such as marriage proposals, business deals, or diplomatic communications, where direct communication might be considered too blunt or premature.
• It implies a strategic, cautious approach to communication, allowing for plausible deniability or a graceful exit if the other party is not receptive.

Variants and Related Words

• Đánh động (v): to alert, to sound an alarm (often about a danger or issue). This is more direct and urgent than "đánh tiếng."
  • Bài báo đó đánh động về một vấn đề môi trường. (That article alerted people to an environmental issue.)

Synonyms

• To hint: To suggest something indirectly.
• To signal: To indicate, especially discreetly.
• To feel out: To try to learn someone's opinions or intentions indirectly.
• To send out feelers: To make tentative or indirect suggestions to test reactions.

Related Idioms

• Đánh tiếng trước: To send word in advance; to give a prior hint.

  • Anh nên đánh tiếng trước nếu định đến muộn. (You should give a hint in advance if you plan to be late.)

• Đánh tiếng xa: To send word from afar; to initiate contact or signal interest very early in a process.

  • Công ty đánh tiếng xa về dự định mở rộng thị trường. (The company signaled from afar its intention to expand the market.)

1. Send word (to somebody indirectly)
   • Đánh tiếng gả con gái
     To send word (to somebody indirectly) intimating that one is readyto marry of one's daughter