Speaking "through the flower" means communicating indirectly or with subtle hints rather than being explicit.
This elegant expression has its roots in the Victorian "language of flowers" (floriography), where different blooms conveyed specific sentiments, allowing people to communicate messages that couldn't be spoken aloud due to social constraints. The practice originated in Ottoman Turkey but became extremely popular in 19th century Europe. In contemporary usage, the phrase often carries a slightly negative connotation, suggesting someone is being unnecessarily vague.
🇩🇪 – Anstatt direkt zu kritisieren, hat mein Chef mir durch die Blume gesagt, dass ich meine Berichte gründlicher schreiben sollte. 🇬🇧 – Instead of criticizing directly, my boss hinted to me that I should write my reports more thoroughly.