To hear something through (or on) the grapevine means to hear about it informally from people you know.
Examples of use:
“She is a member of the church and heard through the grapevine that our now old minibus, which had no access for wheelchairs, had gaps at the windows and the sliding door was hard to close.”
“Mrs Wild, who lives in Guilton in Ash, says she heard ‘through the grapevine’ that the women’s pension age was being raised from 60 to 62 as part of a government push to bring the age in line with men’s, which is 65.”
“We’ve all probably been in a car with someone who has driven barefoot at one time or another - and have probably all heard through the grapevine that driving barefoot is illegal.”
This phrase apparently originates from an American Civil War expression, when news was said to be passed “by grapevine telegraph.” [1] This in turn may have been related to the phrase “bush telegraph,” also describing rapid informal spreading of information or rumours or the network through which this occurred. This expression originated in the late 19th century and referred to a network of informers who let bushrangers know about the movements of the police in the Australian bush or outback. [2]
e.g. “Evidently, the bush telegraph was accurate.”
[1] “grapevine” in Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms, edited by Ayto, John. Oxford University Press, 2009.
[2] “telegraph” In Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms, edited by Ayto, John. Oxford University Press, 2009.
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