intimation, insinuation, inkling, suggestion, implication, supposition, sideshadowing, glimpse, shadowing, shade, more...

reference, explicit mention, direct mention

metaphor, simile, allegory, hyperbole, personification, analogy, more...

literary, slightest, brief, direct, further, classical, only, biblical, clear, obvious, frequent

indirect reference,   hinting towards,   a reference to,   casual reference,   cultural references,   bare hint,   cultural reference,   passing reference,   dropping a hint,   loose reference