birdy
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a little birdie told me
A phrase used when one does not want to reveal the source of the information that one is about to share or has shared. A: "Did you hear that Mark is planning to propose to Sarah soon?" B: "Yes, a little birdie told me." A little birdie told me that George interviewed for that open position in human resources, so maybe we'll be free of him sooner than later. Don't worry, I don't reveal my sources of gossip. So when Carly asked how I knew about her new relationship, I just said that a little birdie told me.
sing like a birdie
To inform (against someone) to the police or other authority about their criminal or illicit behavior. I heard Joey Malone has been singing like a birdie in the hopes of getting his sentence reduced. Let's make sure he's sleeping with the fishes before he gets to trial!
Watch the birdie!
cliché, dated Said by a photographer to his subject, especially a child, in order to capture their attention before a photograph. In the early days of photography, photographers used small toy bird mounted above the camera lens to draw the subject's gaze. Now, as the last step of the process, I'll need to get a picture of you to put on your license. Watch the birdie!
See also: watch
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
birdy
and birdie mod. crazy; strange. She acts a little birdy from time to time.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.