Through the grapevine
English Idiom
Meaning: Hearing information indirectly, often through gossip or rumors, rather than from an official source. This kind of information usually spreads quickly among peers or within a community.
Origin: The phrase 'through the grapevine' originated in the 19th century in the United States. It was inspired by the telegraph system, often referred to as the 'grapevine telegraph,' which was a way of sending messages quickly but sometimes inaccurately. Over time, the term evolved to describe the rapid spread of information through informal networks.
