word to the wise

a word to the wise

A phrase that emphasizes a statement as advice. It is a shortening of the phrase "a word to the wise is sufficient," meaning that a wise or intelligent person can take a hint and does not need a long explanation. A word to the wise—don't use Amy's baby shower as an opportunity to announce your engagement. Stay away from the boss today, he's in a bad mood. Just a word to the wise.
See also: wise, word
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

word to the wise (is enough).

 and A word to the wise is sufficient.
Prov. You only have to hint something to wise people in order to get them to understand it.; Wise people do not need long explanations. (Often used to signal that you are hinting something.) John's a pleasant man, but I wouldn't trust him with money. A word to the wise, eh? Donna hinted about Lisa's drinking problem to Lisa's fiancé, hoping that a word to the wise would be enough.
See also: wise, word
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

word to the wise, a

This is good advice; you would do well to heed this. Several Roman writers put good advice in just this way, saying, “A word to the wise is enough” (Plautus, Terence). Ben Jonson used it in his play The Case Is Altered (ca. 1600): “Go to, a word to the wise.” A somewhat more recent equivalent, also a cliché, is words of wisdom.
See also: word
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • a word to the wise
  • but for the grace of God
  • (as) sure as eggs (is eggs)
  • sure as eggs is eggs
  • a penny for them
  • and how
  • and how!
  • great minds
  • great minds think alike
  • be twiddling (one's) thumbs
References in periodicals archive
Word to the wise: Conducting first aid is necessary to any injury or illness; but if you need immediate medical attention, it's best to go to a hospital.
Go big without the bang: New Year home safety reminders
A word to the wise, then: There are a lot of phony cashier's checks floatingaround out there.
Bolo
It's nothing more than Sondheim on piano and vocals, and in the liner notes the composer offers this word to the wise: "I tend to sing very loud, usually off-pitch, and always write in keys that are just out of my range." But hard-core aficionados will appreciate Sondheim's crisp enunciation and fantastic piano playing on "Love Is in the Air," "Don't Look at Me," and "Pleasant Little Kingdom."
A master's class
A word to the wise: Negative people act out against you because of a need to up their own self-esteem.
Killer confidence from A to Z
And so, a word to the wise: To help their clients and employers stay out of disclosure-related trouble, CPAs should advise them to retain legal counsel who follows the SEC's regulation FD-related activities.
Regulation FD: coping in the trenches: CFOs tell how the SEC's stricter disclosure rules have changed the way they release financial information about their companies
Once someone new enters your orbit, a word to the wise: When the time is right to talk about your MS, be simple and personal.
"You've lost that lovin' feeling ...": restarting romance. (A Valetine's Day Special)
Perhaps it's meant to be wryly ironic, a flinty kind of wishful thinking--or a backhanded word to the wise. Certainly it begs a treatment larger than the short form Shepard so clearly has mastered.
Great Dream of Heaven. (New Books)
A word to the wise however; the Marriott Orlando Word Center was sold our in January for the August convention.
Workers' Comp Conference deemed immense success. (National Report)
But if the court favors Vopper, a word to the wise: Don't use a cell phone to plot your next assassination.
Silencing Cellular
The simple text is, however, complemented by a "Key Signature" (the hero's father was a musician), which the translator renders as "A Word to the Wise," "Notes" (twenty-one pages), "Notes to the Notes" (forty- nine pages), and "Notes to the Notes to the Notes" (five pages).
A Bohemian Youth
After England's failure at the World Cup and its loss to New Zealand in the Second Test, Warwickshire is taking quite literally the saying "a word to the wise" in its bid to help rebuild the country's cricketing fortunes.
Howzat! for a way to inspire young cricketers with words of wisdom
A word to the wise is sufficient: It's a burden you don't need.
When the IRS comes calling
Word to the wise, do not eat your dinner in front of this episode...
WE LOVE DRAMA
A word to the wise, though - check the tide times as the waves come in quickly and only follow the main path as there can be quick sand.
the from..
David calls Gail from Liverpool CORONATION STREET (ITV, 7.30pm and 8.30pm) A WORD to the wise David.
WE LOVE SOAPS