smoke signals
Primitive aerial communication
Smoke signals are puffs of smoke sent up as a form of long-distance communication, historically used by various indigenous peoples and military forces.
The signals conveyed predetermined messages visible across miles.
Figuratively, smoke signals are indirect hints or preliminary indications of intent: The company is sending smoke signals about a possible merger.
The phrase often implies communication that is vague or difficult to interpret.
- semaphoreFlag-based signaling system
- puffsBrief expulsions of air
- heliographSunlight-based signaling device
- messageTransmitted communication
- fireCombustion with flames
camp fire · distress · hilltop · clear skies · alert · tribal traditions · indigenous · blanket · line of sight · distant hills · controlled burns · warning · Apache · old west · codes · communication · long distance · rising
- ancient communicationhieroglyphs, carrier pigeon, pictographs, pictograms, courier
- indigenous signalstalking drums, conch shell, wampum, wampum belts, quipu
- communicationtelephone, conversation, inform, messages, dialogue
- communication methodsphone line, radio, telephone, television, text
- communication systemsalphabet, Braille, Morse code, hieroglyphics, cuneiform
- nonverbal communicationgestures, pointing, body language, facial expressions, eye contact
smoke signalsdigital communication
Information exchange via technology
instant messaging · text message · email · satellite communication · video call
smoke signalsdirect speech
Exact quoted utterance
plain language · plain speech · clear instructions · written contract · formal declaration
smoke signalswritten record
sign, smoke, signal, assign, smoking, smoked, signature, signals, signify