Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[hiromichi]

What does actually mean "in thinly veiled threats"?


White House officials said they believe the assessment has
dimmed the prospect that Israel would pre-emptively strike
against the country's nuclear facilities within the next
year, as Israeli officials have suggested in thinly veiled
threats.
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Hiromichi

[pugachevV]

A thinly-veiled threat is a threat that is not a direct threat. It is couched in moderate language. Instead of saying, "If you do that, we will bomb you." They say, "If you do that, we have not ruled out a military response ".

[hiromichi]

pugachevV:
Thank you very much.　
Naturally you do not use an expression " in thickly veiled threats." Am I right in assuming it?
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Hiromichi

[jumbonaut]

hiromichi, that is a correct assumption. A "thickly veiled threat" is not an expression that is commonly used unless for satirical purposes.
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Pat Mallon
www.englishnation.net

[hiromichi]

jumbonaut:

Thank you very much.
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Hiromichi