Want to Know a Secret? Maybe You'll 'Get Wind of It'

Now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.

Wind is a powerful force in nature. High wind speeds from tornadoes¹, hurricanes and other violent storms can cause great destruction.

But wind can also be a force for good.

It can turn machinery² that produces energy.

It can help boats sail great distances. In the wild, wind can provide life-saving information to some animals. And it doesn't need to be a strong wind. For example, a scent³ or smell carried by a light breeze can tell a deer about the presence of a hunter just a few meters away.

The wind can provide useful information to people, too!

When we "get wind of something," we hear some news or information that has been kept private. Naturally, this air of secrecy⁴ makes it even more interesting.

When using this expression, remember this: When we get wind of something, we become aware of the information through indirect means. In other words, we learn of it second-hand⁵ or through the grapevine. We do not hear it straight from the source.

The wind might give others information that we want to keep quiet. For example, the leaders of the company were worried about investors⁶ getting wind of the factory fire. If the investors knew, they would probably withdraw their money and invest elsewhere.

Here is another example: The filmmakers did not want the media to get wind of the actor's latest arrest. After all, she is playing a police officer in the movie.

At times, the information or news sent by the wind is bad, just gossip or talk, and not really helpful at all. For example, if someone asks me, "Did you hear that so-and-so lost his job?" I can answer, "Yeah, I got wind of that yesterday."

But sometimes the news or information is not bad. It is just something you want to keep secret.

Like the time I tried to plan a surprise party for my best friend. I did not want him to get wind of it. That would ruin the surprise.

But it is so difficult keeping anything from him. He is nosy⁷ and asks a lot of questions, such as: "Why are you calling all my friends?" Why are you buying so much food and drinks?" "Are you planning a party for me?"

So much for that surprise party.

Now this expression is not always about learning private information or keeping secrets. The wind can send us information that we need to make good decisions.

For example, I was just about to buy tickets to a big three-day, outdoor music event. But then I got wind that my favorite performer (and the only reason I was going) had cancelled. Thank goodness a friend of a friend of a friend told me or I would not have known!

That is all the time we have for Words and Their Stories. I will have a new story for you next week. But if I get wind of a change in plans, I'll make sure to let you know!

Words in This Story

breeze – n. a light gentle wind

aware – adj. knowing that something (such as a situation, condition, or problem) exists

indirect – adj. not going straight from one point to another : not said or done in a clear and direct way

secondhand – adj. not original : taken from someone who was not directly involved

through the grapevine – idiomatic⁸ expression to learn something through an informal means of communication, especially gossip

source – n. a cause or starting point

gossip – n. information about the behavior and personal lives of other people

nosy – adj. informal + disapproving⁹ : wanting to know about other people's lives, problems, etc.

ticket – n. a piece of paper that allows you to see a show, participate in an event, travel on a vehicle, etc.

1 tornadoes   

n.龙卷风，旋风( tornado的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Tornadoes, severe earthquakes, and plagues create wide spread havoc. 龙卷风、大地震和瘟疫成普遍的毁坏。 来自互联网
• Meteorologists are at odds over the working of tornadoes. 气象学者对龙卷风的运动方式看法不一。 来自互联网

2 machinery   

n.(总称)机械，机器；机构

参考例句：

• Has the machinery been put up ready for the broadcast?广播器材安装完毕了吗？
• Machinery ought to be well maintained all the time.机器应该随时注意维护。

3 scent   

n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉

参考例句：

• The air was filled with the scent of lilac.空气中弥漫着丁香花的芬芳。
• The flowers give off a heady scent at night.这些花晚上散发出醉人的芳香。

4 secrecy   

n.秘密，保密，隐蔽

参考例句：

• All the researchers on the project are sworn to secrecy.该项目的所有研究人员都按要求起誓保守秘密。
• Complete secrecy surrounded the meeting.会议在绝对机密的环境中进行。

5 second-hand   

adj.用过的，旧的，二手的

参考例句：

• I got this book by chance at a second-hand bookshop.我赶巧在一家旧书店里买到这本书。
• They will put all these second-hand goods up for sale.他们将把这些旧货全部公开出售。

6 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

7 nosy   

adj.鼻子大的，好管闲事的，爱追问的；n.大鼻者

参考例句：

• Our nosy neighbours are always looking in through our windows.好管闲事的邻居总是从我们的窗口望进来。
• My landlord is so nosy.He comes by twice a month to inspect my apartment.我的房东很烦人，他每个月都要到我公寓视察两次。

8 idiomatic   

adj.成语的，符合语言习惯的

参考例句：

• In our reading we should always be alert for idiomatic expressions.我们在阅读过程中应经常注意惯用法。
• In his lecture,he bore down on the importance of idiomatic usage in a language.他在演讲中着重强调了语言中习惯用法的重要性。

9 disapproving   

adj.不满的，反对的v.不赞成( disapprove的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Mother gave me a disapproving look. 母亲的眼神告诉我她是不赞成的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Her father threw a disapproving glance at her. 她父亲不满地瞥了她一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》