C1idiominformalcommunicationIELTS-friendly
hear something through the grapevine
USUK
to learn news unofficially, because people have passed it on
British English also says 'on the grapevine'. The news may or may not be true.
In context
I heard through the grapevine that our team leader is moving to Singapore.
We had heard it through the grapevine long before the official email about the layoffs arrived.
More idioms about communication
- a bone of contentiona subject that people keep arguing about
- a broken recordsomeone who keeps repeating the same thing in an annoying way
- a heart-to-heartan honest, private conversation about personal feelings
- a moot pointUK: a question still open to argument. US: a question that no longer matters in practice.
- a red herringa fact or idea that takes attention away from the real issue