The process of courtship in our society relies considerably on subliminal communications.
I may meet a girl that I am interested in, but I do not want to risk the embarrassment of being turned down verbally for a date.
So I go up to her and say, "Hi, do you know what time it is?" That's the figure.
But I try to assume a body posture and voice quality that is (in my opinion) rather "chummy." That is my subliminal message.
If she turns pale, backs-up and and kind if says through clenched teeth,"two ten" I know that she would probably say "no," so I don't ask the fatal question.