People love stories, especially stories with secret information in them. In this episode, we talk about expressions that people use when they telling a story, whether it’s true or possibly not. These stories might be told by a person who heard it directly from a trustworthy source or by someone who just loves to gossip! Sometimes it’s hard to know the difference. Listen to this episode if you’ve ever heard a story through the grapevine.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Expressions included in the learning materials
- To come on over
- To get wind of something
- To keep your mouth shut
- To mind your own business
- Have I got something for you!
- To hear something through the grapevine
- To spread like wild fire
- A little birdie told me
- Two weeks’ notice
Sample transcript
Maura: Today’s episode is a Catch Word episode. That is where we look at different expressions that are related to each other, we explain them, and give you examples of how to naturally use them.
Harp: Yes. So let’s get started. Today we’re looking at expressions…
Maura: Expressions that have to do with hearing some new information. So the first expression today is to get wind of something.
Harp: Yeah. To get wind of something.
Maura: Right. So to get wind of something means that you learned something new or heard something new and this new thing that you learned is often supposed to be a secret.
Harp: Yes. And often, the person or the source of the information is unknown or kept a secret as well.
Maura: Right. Instead of saying who you heard this information from, you just say that you got wind of it. So you don’t actually have to say where you heard this new, possibly secret, information.
Harp: Yeah. It’s like the wind told you this secret.
Maura: Right. It’s like you were just minding your own business and the wind passed by you and you just happened to hear some new information.
Harp: Yup. Exactly like that.
Maura: So people might even use this expression to mean that they didn’t intentionally learn this new information or they didn’t even maybe want to hear about this secret, but it just happened naturally.
Harp: Yeah.
Maura: It was the wind.
Harp: Yeah.
Maura: People like to be innocent when it comes to rumours and gossip. They never think that they’re the person that’s helping to spread it around.
Harp: Yeah.
Maura: So, that’s a good image to remember to help you remember this expression, to get wind of something.
Podcast/Learning Materials: Culips English Podcast