words to the wise
Guidance for listeners
Words to the wise is a phrase introducing advice or warning, implying that sensible people will heed it: A word to the wise: don't mention politics at dinner.
The full expression is "a word to the wise is sufficient"—smart people don't need lengthy explanations.
Usually shortened to word to the wise or simply word.
- recommendationAdvised course of action
- adviceGuidance on decisions
- guidanceAdvice for decisions
- instructionGuidance for action
- hintIndirect suggestion
counsel · caution · caveat · friendly reminder · aphorism · forewarning · maxim · adage · admonition · gentle nudge · moral · understatement · old saying · conciseness · subtlety · indirectness · brevity · proverb
words to the wisepearls before swine
Offering value to those incapable of appreciating it
words to the wisebad advice
fool's errand · wild goose chase · misinformation · disinformation · snake oil
words to the wisespelling it out
Stating something explicitly
beating a dead horse · stating the obvious · spoon-feeding · hand-holding
word, words, worded, wording, wordless, wordsmith, wise, wiser, wisest