read between the lines

Cultural  

1. To pay attention to what is implied in writing or in speech.

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read between the lines Idioms  

1. Perceive or detect a hidden meaning, as in They say that everything's fine, but reading between the lines I suspect they have some marital problems. This term comes from cryptography, where in one code reading every second line of a message gives a different meaning from that of the entire text. [Mid-1800s]

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Example Sentences

"I can read between the lines, bro," he said.

From Barron's • Feb. 14, 2026

Oftentimes, legal issues arise that require judges to read between the lines of the Constitution and make assumptions about what the Framers intended.

From Slate • Jun. 27, 2025

"I have to read between the lines when they tell me about what's going on."

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2025

The memoir is likewise an offering to both know Case more deeply, and to read between the lines, dance around in it and resonate with the complexities of being a creative human.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 22, 2025

But I can read between the lines and know you’ve gone through others as well.

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson