a nod's as good as a wink
- idiom
- Archaic
:
un guiño es tan bueno como un asentimiento
- He didn't need to say anything; a nod's as good as a wink.
Examples
-
With just a smile, she let him know she understood: a nod's as good as a wink.
-
He glanced at his friend, and a nod's as good as a wink told him to act.
-
He didn’t say anything, but you know, a nod's as good as a wink.
-
Sometimes, a nod's as good as a wink!
-
He didn’t need to say anything; a nod's as good as a wink was enough to convey his agreement.
-
With a subtle gesture, a nod's as good as a wink signaled that they were on the same page.
-
When she gave him a knowing look, a nod's as good as a wink served as their silent agreement.
Synonyms
1
9.0
A small sign that shows a private joke or secret
1
1.4
A short up and down head movement that shows agreement
Hint at something in a joking way with a wink or small gesture
Antonyms
How Explicit
Surface Forms
Morphology
a + nod's + as + good + as + a + wink
The proverb directly compares two simple gestures—'nod' and 'wink'—and states they are equally effective, so a hint or brief gesture is sufficient without words. The constituent words and the comparative structure ('as ... as') are basic and cross‑linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the words can readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
The idiom a nod's as good as a wink comes from the simple image of two small gestures: a nod and a wink. In quiet or secret situations, one quick nod could mean the same as a quick wink, so a small sign was enough to give a 'hint' or 'agreement'.