message

Universal Words noun ~ (from sb) (to sb) 1 a written or spoken piece of information, etc. that you send to sb or leave for sb when you cannot speak to them yourself: There were no messages for me at the hotel. * I left a message on your answering machine. * Jenny's not here at the moment. Can I take a message? * We've had an urgent message saying that your father's ill. * a televised message from the President to the American people * an e-mail message * I've been trying to get you all day-don't you ever listen to your messages? 2 [usuallysing.] an important moral, social or political idea that a book, speech, etc. is trying to communicate: a film with a strong religious message * The campaign is trying to get the message across to young people that drugs are dangerous. * The clear message coming from the government is that they are getting tough on crime. 3 (messages) [pl.] (ScotE) shopping: to do the messages * to go for the messages * You can leave your messages (= the things that you have bought) here. IDIOMS get the message (informal) to understand what sb is trying to tell you indirectly: When he started looking at his watch, I got the message and left. on / off message (of a politician) stating/not stating the official point of view of their political party