hear through the grapevine

English

Etymology

From the American Civil War, when telegraph wires were strung from tree to tree like vines.

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU):

  (file)

Verb

hear (something) through the grapevine

1. (idiomatic) to hear rumors; to learn through friends of friends
   • 1966, Norman Whitfield & Barrett Strong, "I Heard It Through the Grapevine".

     I heard it through the grapevine / Not much longer would you be mine

   I heard through the grapevine that she likes him.

Synonyms

• hear on the grapevine
• hear on the bush telegraph

Translations

learn through rumors

• Finnish: kuulla puskaradiosta
• German: über die Buschtrommel hören, über die Buschtrommeln hören, durch die Buschtrommel hören, durch die Buschtrommeln hören, die Nachricht sprach sich herum, ich hab so was läuten hören, über die Urwaldtrommel hören
• Icelandic: heyra á skotspónum, frétta á skotspónum, heyra á utan að sér, frétta á utan að sér
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Spanish: enterarse por radio macuto
• Swedish: höra via djungeltrumman