whisper

Chinese whispers

1. A game played between a group of people in which a story or message is told by one person in secret to another, who then retells it to the next, and so on, with the resulting end message usually differing widely (and often amusingly) from the original. It can be considered a pejorative term, so discretion is advised. Primarily heard in UK. Chinese whispers is a great game—it's always hilarious to see what the last person has interpreted by the end!

2. Any information or gossip that has been spread and retold by multiple parties, thus obfuscating, distorting, or exaggerating the original information. A somewhat pejorative term, it takes its name from the party game described above. Primarily heard in UK. The firm's CEO denounced the rumors of impending layoffs as being nothing more than Chinese whispers. It's a common occurrence that sensationalist news headlines devolve into Chinese whispers, thus leading a large number of people to accept misinformation as fact.

See also: Chinese, whisper

in a pig's whisper

Very quickly; in a very short amount of time. Sorry for the wait. Your lunch will be out in a pig's whisper. Don't worry, boss, I'll have this report typed up in a pig's whisper! A: "Oh no, I jammed the department's printer again." B: "Don't worry, I'll be over there in a pig's whisper to fix it."

See also: whisper

in a stage whisper

In an exaggerated whisper that is loud enough to be overheard by other people. In theater performance, a "stage whisper" is speech that is loud enough to be heard by the audience but that has the hushed affectation of a whisper. He leaned over to me during the meeting and said in this really smug stage whisper, "And that's why Steve's the boss!" I think you should say the line in a stage whisper, since you're supposed to be attending a funeral in the scene. No, Cody said it in a stage whisper. He wanted to seem humble—but make sure everyone nearby could hear him!

See also: stage, whisper

stage whisper

1. Literally, in theater performance, speech that is loud enough to be heard by the audience but that has the hushed affectation of a whisper. I think you should say the line in a stage whisper, since you're supposed to be attending a funeral in the scene.

2. By extension, an exaggerated whisper that is loud enough to be overheard by other people. He leaned over to me during the meeting and said in this really smug stage whisper, "And that's why Steve's the boss!"

See also: stage, whisper

whisper (something) around

To spread gossip, rumors, or secrets around (some place or group of people) in a secretive, circumspect manner. Stop whispering stuff like that around—you know it's probably not true! Tommy whispered it around the rest of the class that the Sally had been expelled for stealing from the principal.

See also: around, whisper

whisper about (someone or something)

1. Literally, to talk about someone or something in a whisper. Catherine and her friend huddled in the corner of the room, whispering about something or other. I could hear tell they were whispering about me, even though I couldn't hear what they were saying.

2. By extension, to discuss or gossip about something in a secretive, circumspect manner. A lot of people in the company have been whispering about supposed layoffs coming down the line. Kids at school are whispering about the principal, saying that he is wanted for murder in Louisiana.

See also: whisper

whisper down the lane

1. A game played between a group of people in which a story or message is whispered by one person to another, who then retells it to the next, and so on, with the resulting end message usually differing widely (and often amusingly) from the original. Whisper down the lane is always a lot of fun. It's hilarious to see what the last person has interpreted by the end! I've heard that whisper down the lane is a great ice breaker for students learning to speak English. It helps develop listening, comprehension, and vocabulary skills all at once.

2. Any information or gossip that has been spread and retold by multiple parties, thus obfuscating, distorting, or exaggerating the original information. Usually used in singular constructions. The firm's CEO denounced the rumors of impending layoffs as nothing more than whisper down the lane. Social media is little more than whisper down the lane on a huge scale, but worryingly, it's also what many people consider their primary news source.

See also: down, lane, whisper

whisper sweet nothings

To murmur words of affection to someone in a flirtatious manner. These words may be genuine or less serious. My ex-boyfriend used to whisper sweet nothings to me and then sneak out with his mistress later! At the prom, I watched all the couples around me whispering sweet nothings to each other as they danced.

See also: nothing, sweet, whisper

whisper sweet nothings in (one's) ear

To murmur words of affection to someone in a flirtatious manner. These words may be genuine or less serious. My ex-boyfriend used to whisper sweet nothings in my ear and then sneak out with his mistress later!

See also: ear, nothing, sweet, whisper

whispering campaign

The spread of rumors, with the intent of damaging a person's reputation The whispering campaign that the opposition has launched against me is just awful! I haven't done any of the things they've claimed! I'm always skeptical of the terrible allegations that come out in these whispering campaigns.

See also: campaign, whisper

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

in a stage whisper

Fig. in a loud whisper that everyone can hear. John said in a stage whisper, "This play is boring." "When do we eat?" asked Billy in a stage whisper.

See also: stage, whisper

whisper about someone or something

to speak about someone or something in a quiet, breathy voice, as if telling secrets. I hope they aren't whispering about me. Everyone is whispering about the incident in the lunchroom.

See also: whisper

whisper something around

to spread secrets or gossip around. Now, don't whisper this around, but Sam is going to run away from home. If you whisper this around, you will spoil the surprise.

See also: around, whisper

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

stage whisper

A whisper loud enough to be overheard, as in Our three-year-old behaved beautifully at the ceremony, but then he asked in a stage whisper, "Why does that lady have blue hair?" This expression alludes to an actor's whisper on stage, which is meant to be heard by the audience. [Mid-1800s]

See also: stage, whisper

whispering campaign

A deliberate spreading of derogatory rumors about a candidate, as in That whispering campaign destroyed his chances for election. [c. 1920]

See also: campaign, whisper

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

stage whisper

A whisper intended to be heard by one and all. In the theater this term literally meant an aside—a thought spoken aloud—communicated to the audience and allegedly unheard by the other actors on stage. It dates from the mid-nineteenth century and by 1900 or so was employed figuratively. J. V. McIlwraith used it in Kinsmen at War (1927): “Mrs. Secord spoke in a stage whisper.”

See also: stage, whisper

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer