leave to the imagination
Not spell out
To leave something to the imagination is to omit details, allowing others to fill in what's unstated.
The phrase often appears in the negative: a revealing outfit leaves little to the imagination, while a tasteful one leaves something to the imagination.
The expression acknowledges that what remains unseen or unsaid can be more powerful than explicit disclosure.
- suggestionIdea proposed for consideration
- hintIndirect suggestion
- reading between linesPerceiving unstated meaning
- understatementIntentional diminishment for effect
- less is moreRestraint creates impact
negative space · mystery · implication · hidden meaning · unspoken words · open-endedness · glimpse · tip of iceberg · minimalism · bare bones · outline · indirectness · fill in blanks · secret · silhouette · omission · impressionism · mask
leave to the imaginationspell out
Explain in detail
elaborate · lay bare · overexplain · flesh out · leave no stone unturned
leave to the imaginationbare all
Reveal completely, physically/emotionally
expose · lay bare · let it all hang out · hold nothing back · flaunt
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