hear through the grapevine

From the American Civil War, when telegraph wires were strung from tree to tree like vines.

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hear through the grapevine (third-person singular simple present hears through the grapevine, present participle hearing through the grapevine, simple past and past participle heard through the grapevine)

1. (idiomatic) To hear rumors; to learn through friends of friends.
   • 1966, Norman Whitfield & Barrett Strong, "I Heard It Through the Grapevine".

     I heard it through the grapevine / Not much longer would you be mine

   I heard through the grapevine that she likes him.

• hear on the grapevine
• hear on the bush telegraph