What is the meaning of IMPLY and How to use it?

[Sajjaninsan]

What is the meaning of 'imply' and 'implied' and how to use it. Thanks in advance!

[Barb_D]

It's when you say something indirectly.

If I tell you that you look nice today, it does NOT imply you usually look terrible on other days.

If I say "You better have the report ready by Friday" there is an implied thread that I'll be in trouble if I don't.

A lot of people mix up "infer" with "imply."

If you look them up in the dictionary, you'll see their differences.

[Sureshvemuri]

"You better have the report ready by Friday" --
I think, we can use "You HAD better" instead of "You better".
I am told that we should not avoid -HAD- when we use the word "better".

Thanks,
Suresh