hear it on the grapevine

Meaning

This phrase means to learn about some news, gossip, or rumor through informal communication, conversations, or word of mouth rather than official channels. It is highly casual and often implies that the information might not be 100% verified yet.

Examples

• I heard it on the grapevine that Sarah is planning to resign next month.

  I heard it on the grapevine that Sarah is planning to resign next month.

• Where did you get that information? Oh, I just heard it on the grapevine.

  Where did you get that information? Oh, I just heard it on the grapevine.

• We heard on the grapevine that the company might be opening a new office in Tokyo.

  We heard on the grapevine that the company might be opening a new office in Tokyo.

• Don't spread this around, but I heard it on the grapevine that they are getting a divorce.

  Don't spread this around, but I heard it on the grapevine that they are getting a divorce.

• I heard on the grapevine that there's going to be a surprise inspection tomorrow.

  I heard on the grapevine that there's going to be a surprise inspection tomorrow.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I heard it from the grapevine.

  ✓ I heard it on the grapevine.

  The correct preposition is 'on', imagining the information traveling along a vine network.

• ✗ I read it on the grapevine.

  ✓ I heard it on the grapevine.

  The idiom is strictly auditory ('heard') because it refers to spoken rumors and word-of-mouth gossip.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I ___ that the boss is planning to retire early, but nothing is official yet.

  💡 Learned via informal gossip or rumors.

  Show answer

  heard it on the grapevine

• How do you know they are dating? "I just ___."

  💡 Heard through word of mouth.

  Show answer

  heard it on the grapevine