read between the lines

present singular third person reads between the lines · participle present reading between the lines

1. idiomaticTo infer a meaning that is not stated explicitly.

   If you read between the lines a little, you will realize that he has deeper motives.

   5 more examples

   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

   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

   So when you're readin' explanations / You have to read between the lines

   1991, Mike Rutherford, Christopher Neil, “Word of Mouth”, performed by Mike + The Mechanics