Heard it through the grapevine

Definitions

• Heard a rumor or information indirectly
  To indicate that information was received through informal or unofficial channels, often implying that the information may not be fully reliable

• Gossip or hearsay
  Referring to rumors or gossip that has been spread from person to person, often with exaggerations or inaccuracies

Examples of Heard it through the grapevine

• Jill heard through the grapevine that Mike had quit his job and was thinking of starting his own business.

  This idiom means that Jill received information about Mike's decision indirectly, probably from multiple sources. The "grapevine" refers to the informal network of people who spread rumors and news by word of mouth. In this example, Jill heard from several people that Mike was planning to leave his job and start his own business, and she pieced together the information to reach her own conclusion.

• The gossip around town had it that Sarah was seeing someone new, but no one knew who it was.

  This idiom illustrates how rumors and gossip spread quickly in a tight-knit community. In this example, people in Sarah's town were speculating about her love life without any concrete information. The "it" in this context refers to the rumor itself, which was being passed on from person to person like a ripe piece of fruit on a grapevine.

• I overheard a conversation between two colleagues yesterday, and they seemed to hint that the company was planning to downsize. I'm hearing it through the grapevine that my job might be in jeopardy.

  Here, the idiom is used in the context of workplace gossip. The speaker has picked up snippets of information from others, indicating that the company might be planning to lay off some staff. This person's use of "hearing it through the grapevine" suggests that they're not entirely sure of what's happening, but the rumor has reached them indirectly.

• Rachel's auntie had heard it through the grapevine that her niece was engaged, but Rachel had kept the news a secret, wanting to share it with her closest friends and family before making a public announcement.

  This example illustrates how trustworthy the information from the grapevine can be. Although Rachel's auntie had heard the news from someone else, Rachel didn't mind as she wanted to keep it a secret for a little longer. Here, the idiom highlights the fact that the information passed around in a social network doesn't always reach its intended recipient accurately. Rachel probably didn't want her engagement to be prematurely broadcasted to the world, and by keeping quiet, she had the opportunity to make the announcement when she was ready.

• My friend told me that their co-worker has been spreading some gossip behind their back. I haven't directly heard anything from the person in question, but I'm learning about it through the rumor mill, or the "grapevine."

  The idiom "heard it through the grapevine" is used to describe receiving information that started as a rumor or piece of gossip that was passed along informally. It implies that the source of the information is unreliable or uncertain, and the accuracy of the information is unverified. The origin of the phrase can be traced back to the late 1960s when it was popularized by the Motown group The Miracles in their hit song "Shop Around." Today, the expression is commonly used in both formal and informal settings.

Conclusion

The idiom "heard it through the grapevine" is commonly used to convey the idea of receiving information indirectly or through unofficial channels. It can also imply that the information may not be entirely accurate, as it is based on rumors or gossip. The idiom is often used to discuss information that has been spread from person to person, possibly with exaggerations or inaccuracies.

Origin of "Heard it through the grapevine"

The origin of the idiom "heard it through the grapevine" can be traced back to the telegraph and telephone systems of the 19th century. In those days, information was often spread through informal channels, with people passing on news and gossip to one another. The phrase gained popularity in the 1960s with the release of the song "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye, which further solidified its place in modern language.

The use of the word "grapevine" in the idiom is thought to refer to the twisted and tangled nature of grapevines, mirroring the way information can become distorted and exaggerated as it is passed along. The idiom has since become a popular way to describe the spread of rumors and hearsay in everyday conversation.