Subtext

I was looking at a book on writing plays, and I liked this quote on subtext, which has to do with dialogue that communicates somewhat indirectly:

"Subtext is often found in two areas: understatedness and inarticulateness. The British are masters of the former... Americans of the latter."

I love subtext, in its place, but it puts demands on the actor, who needs to understand what he is not spelling out.

Poorly acted subtext
Can leave you sorely vexed.