Full Answer
What does hear through the Grapevine stand for?
To hear something through the grapevine is to learn of something informally and unofficially by means of gossip and rumour. The usual implication is that the information was passed person to person by word of mouth, perhaps in a confidential manner among friends or colleagues.
What is the past tense of hear through the Grapevine?
Meaning of Idiom ‘Hear it Through the Grapevine’
- Usage. Usually expressed in the past tense as “I heard it through the grapevine.”
- Examples Of Use. “I heard through the grapevine we’re getting a new assistant.” “How did you find out about my award?” asked Anna.
- Origin. This American idiom dates from the first half of the 1800s and has nothing to do with grapes or grapevines.
What is the meaning of the idiom through a grapevine?
The following meanings are understood from this idiom based on many dictionaries:
- to hear rumours about something or someone
- to hear some news (false or true) from someone who heard that from someone else
- to learn something informally, usually verbally and from someone else
What does heard it through the Grapevine mean?
To hear something through the grapevine or on the grapevine is to learn about something via an informal source or hearsay, from another person; it may refer to an overheard conversation or anonymous sources of information. What does grapevine mean in slang? The grapevine is a word for gossip.
What does "heard through the grapevine" mean?
To hear or learn of something through an informal means of communication, especially gossip. I heard through the grapevine that Stacy and Mark are getting a divorce. A: "How do you know the company is going bust?" B: "I heard it through the grapevine."
What does it mean when you hear news through the grapevine?
COMMON If you hear a piece of news through the grapevine or hear it on the grapevine, you are told it informally by someone who was told it by someone else. I heard through the grapevine that she was looking for work. She heard on the grapevine that he had come back to London. Note: One of the early telegraph systems in America was given the nickname `the grapevine telegraph' because the wires often became tangled, so that they reminded people of grapevines. During the American Civil War, the telegraph system was used to communicate propaganda and false information, as well as real news about the progress of battles, so that anything heard on the `grapevine' was likely to be unreliable.
Why is the grapevine called the grapevine telegraph?
Note: One of the early telegraph systems in America was given the nickname `the grapevine telegraph' because the wires often became tangled, so that they reminded people of grapevines.
What does "hear from" mean?
hear from (one) hear of. hear of (someone or something) hear oneself think, can't. hear out. hear something on the grapevine. hear something through the grapevine. hear the end of (someone or something) hear the last of (someone or something)
Why was the telegraph used in the Civil War?
During the American Civil War, the telegraph system was used to communicate propaganda and false information, as well as real news about the progress of battles , so that anything heard on the `grapevine' was likely to be unreliable. See also: grapevine, hear, something, through.
Where did the phrase "heard it through the grapevine" come from?
What's the origin of the phrase 'Heard it through the grapevine'? The first practical public demonstration of the telegraph was given in 1844, when Samuel Morse sent a message from Washington to Baltimore. The invention was widely welcomed as a means of rapidly communicating news.
What was the allusion to the grapevine?
It's clear that the allusion was to interactions amongst people who could be expected to be found amongst grapevines, that is, the rural poor. In 1876, The Reno Evening Gazette ran an article about a bumper corn and grape crop.
When was the grapevine telegraph invented?
Soon after the telegraph was invented the term 'grapevine telegraph' was coined - first recorded in a US dictionary in 1852. This distinguished the new direct 'down-the-wire' telegraph from the earlier method, which was likened to the coiling tendrils of a vine.
Who said the police are baffled by the number and activity of the bush telegraphs?
It was recorded in 1878 by an Australian author called Morris: "The police are baffled by the number and activity of the bush telegraphs.".
What is the song "The Grapevine" about?
The lyrics tell the story in the first person of the singer's feelings of betrayal and disbelief when he hears of his girlfriend's infidelity only indirectly "through the 'grapevine'".
When did I hear it through the grapevine come out?
So Gaye's version was released as a single on October 30, 1968. Gaye's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" eventually outsold the Pips', and until The Jackson 5 's " I'll Be There " 20 months later, was the biggest hit single of all time on the Motown label.
What number was the song "In the Groove"?
Due to the song's success, In the Groove was re-issued as I Heard It Through the Grapevine and peaked at number two on the R&B album chart and number sixty-thre e on the album chart, which was at the time Marvin's highest-charted solo studio effort to date.
What song did Marvin Gaye sing?
Marvin Gaye singles chronology. " His Eye is on the Sparrow ". (1968) " I Heard It Through the Grapevine ". (1968) " Good Lovin' Ain't Easy to Come By ". (1969) " I Heard It Through the Grapevine " is a song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for Motown Records in 1966. The first recording of the song to be released was produced by ...
When did Whitfield add Grapevine to Gaye's album?
In September 1968, Whitfield added "Grapevine" to Gaye's new album In the Groove.
Who wrote the song "I heard it through the grapevine"?
For the South Korean television series, see Heard It Through the Grapevine (TV series). " I Heard It Through the Grapevine " is a song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for Motown Records in 1966.
Why was Gaye depressed?
The label was pleased with the success, although Gaye, depressed because of issues such as the illness of singing partner Tammi Terrell (which would kill her less than a year later), was quoted as saying that his success "didn't seem real" and that he "didn't deserve it".
Who sang "I heard it through the grapevine"?
Marvin Gaye's version was included on his 1968 album In The Groove (later re-titled I Heard It Through The Grapevine ). After E. Rodney Jones, the Chicago disc jockey at WVON, started playing it on the air, Berry Gordy reconsidered and released Gaye's version as a single, which became even more popular and known as the definitive version ...
What year did the Grapevine hit #1?
Gaye's "Grapevine" pounded the charts about a year after Knight's, going to #1 in America on December 14, 1968. With this heartbreaking tune about a man who finds out secondhand that his girl is cheating on him, Marvin Gaye wrung out the emotion in the song thanks to Norman Whitfield, who produced the track and gave him very specific instructions.
Why is interpreting important?
The job of interpreting is quite an important one, because when people are not able to express what is in their souls if there is an artist who can... then I think that is very valuable.". Barrett Strong got the idea for the song when he was living in Chicago and heard lots of people using the phrase "I heard it through the grapevine.".
Did Gaye sing higher than his normal range?
Whitfield had Gaye sing slightly higher than his normal range, which created the strained vocal, and he made him do it over and over until he got it right. Gaye explained to NME: "I simply took direction, as I felt the direction he was expounding was a proper one.