PhrasesHub

Have an inkling

    Definitions

      • have a slight idea or suspicion about something
        Expressing a vague sense of knowing or understanding something without having all the details or information

    Examples of Have an inkling

    • Rachel had an inkling that the surprise party for Mike's birthday was going to be a disaster. She noticed that several guests had cancelled at the last minute and Mike seemed unusually nervous.

      In this example, Rachel's intuition or instinct tells her that the surprise party will not go well.

    • As the detective interviewed the suspects, she had an inkling that the butler was not telling the truth about his alibi on the night of the crime. She observed his body language and noted that he was fidgeting and avoiding eye contact.

      In this example, the detective's instincts suggest that the butler is lying about his whereabouts during the time of the crime.

    • The teacher sensed that something was wrong when she saw the look on Tommy's face during the math quiz. She had an inkling that he was cheating, so she kept a close eye on him for the rest of the exam.

      In this example, the teacher's intuition leads her to suspect that Tommy is dishonestly answering the math questions.

    • Jenna had an inkling that she was pregnant even before she took the pregnancy test. She had been experiencing unusual symptoms and missed a period, which led her to believe that she might be expecting a baby.

      In this example, Jenna's intuition tells her that she may be pregnant based on her physical symptoms and menstrual cycle.

    • I have an inkling that the new marketing campaign will be a huge success.

      This is an example of using "have an inkling" in a sentence to express a feeling or intuition that something will happen or be true. "Inkling" refers to a faint or not fully developed idea or suspicion. In this case, the speaker has a weak, unsubstantiated feeling that the new marketing campaign will be successful.

    • After reviewing the sales data, I have an inkling that our target demographic is shifting.

      This is another example of using "have an inkling" to express a feeling or intuition based on evidence. In this case, the speaker has looked at the sales data and has a weak, unsubstantiated feeling that the company's target demographic is changing.

    • I have an inkling that my boss is going to ask me to stay late tonight.

      This example shows how "have an inkling" can be used to anticipate possible future events based on past experiences. The speaker has had previous experiences where their boss has asked them to stay late, and based on this history, they feel a weak, unsubstantiated suspicion that their boss will ask them to work late again.

    • We have an inkling that the company's new product line will be very popular.

      This is an example of using "have an inkling" to express a shared feeling among a group of people. In this case, the speaker and their colleagues have a weak, unsubstantiated feeling that the new product line will be popular among their customers.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "have an inkling" is used to convey the idea of having a faint or slight understanding or suspicion about something. It is often used when one has a vague sense of knowledge or insight without having all the facts or details. This idiom can be used in various contexts to express a sense of intuition or a hunch about a particular situation or topic.

    Origin of "Have an inkling"

    The origin of the idiom "have an inkling" can be traced back to the late 16th century. The word "inkling" itself is derived from the Old English word "incling," which means a hint or suggestion. Over time, the term evolved to become "inkling" in Middle English, and it came to be used figuratively to refer to a slight or vague understanding or suspicion about something. The use of ink as a metaphor for knowledge or understanding likely contributed to the development of this idiom. Today, "have an inkling" continues to be used in everyday language to convey a sense of having a faint idea or suspicion about something.

    Examples:

    • I have an inkling that she is planning a surprise party for me.
    • He had an inkling that something was not quite right with the situation.