To perceive or understand a meaning that is implied but not explicitly stated.
Examples:
- Read between the lines — they're not saying it's over; they're saying they have something bigger to focus on.
- The CEO's vague statement about 'restructuring' prompted analysts to read between the lines.
Origin: From the military practice of writing secret messages between the lines of ordinary text.
Synonyms: read the subtext, infer, read the hidden message