a little bird told me

== English == === Etymology === The etymology is unknown; in English sources, references to birds passing along information to people date back to at least the 16th century (see the 1546 quotation), and in other languages even earlier. For example, Ecclesiastes 10:20 in the Bible, the original Hebrew version of which is dated to 450–180 B.C.E., states according to the King James Version (spelling modernized): “Curse not the king, no not in thy thought, and curse not the rich in thy bed-chamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.” === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ə ˌlɪtl̩ bɜːd ˈtəʊld miː/ (General American) IPA(key): /ə ˌlɪt(ə)l bɜɹd ˈtoʊld mi/, [-ˌlɪɾ(ə)l-] Hyphenation: a lit‧tle bird told me === Phrase === a little bird told me (idiomatic, chiefly humorous) I received the information from a source which I am not prepared to disclose. Synonyms: rumour has it, word has it ==== Usage notes ==== This phrase is often used more comically than seriously, especially when the source of the information is obvious to both parties but neither is willing to say, or because a custom calls for a pretence of secrecy or surprise. ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== hear through the grapevine === References === === Further reading === “a little bird told me” under “bird, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, December 2023. “a little bird told me, phrase”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.