それとなしに

adverb

indirectly; hinting at; without saying directly

Used when conveying something in a roundabout way, without stating it explicitly. Often appears with verbs like 言う, 聞く, or 伝える.

• 彼かれはそれとなしに別わかれたいと言いった。

  He hinted that he wanted to break up.

• それとなしに聞きいてみたけど、はっきりした返へん事じはなかった。

  I tried asking indirectly, but didn't get a clear answer.