when you put quotes around a certain word or phrase to imply something without saying it directly.
In the
mafia for example they would say something like,
"The dishes are done and the kids are in bed" to imply to a hierarchy or an associate in a public place that the order was successfully carried out, such as the transporting of
drugs, blowing something up or murdering someone.
Or: I'll bring the party "supplies" by your
house around 10. (supplies being alcohol
w/o being directly stated)
john: Why did you put quotes around supplies when you were
talking about the
party tonight?
jack: i was implying something else so others wouldn't know what i was really referring to. it's called the quotation mark effect.