Final answer:
An indirect reference used to bring something to mind without mentioning it in detail is called an allusion. Unlike simile or metaphor, which are more direct comparisons, an allusion is an implied reference that doesn't state things explicitly.
Step-by-step explanation:
The expression used to bring something to mind without mentioning it explicitly is known as an allusion. An allusion is an indirect reference that implies something without stating it outright, allowing the reader or listener to make the connection on their own. For example, if an author writes about a character receiving 'an Achilles' heel', this would be an allusion to the Greek mythological figure Achilles and suggests a vulnerability, even though the myth itself is not detailed.
Comparatively, a simile uses 'like' or 'as' to make a comparison (e.g., 'as brave as a lion'), whereas a metaphor is a direct comparison without using 'like' or 'as' (e.g., 'Hope is the thing with feathers'). A hyperbole is an exaggeration used for emphasis (e.g., 'I've said that a million times'). None of these other options fit the definition of an indirect reference as well as an allusion does.