set tongues (a-)wagging
set tongues (a-)wagging
To be a source of gossip or idle speculation. Just when the dust of his previous scandal had begun to settle, the governor committed a new faux pas to set tongues a-wagging across the country. Being such a media celebrity means that anything one does, no matter how banal, is enough to set tongues wagging.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
set tongues (a)wagging
Fig. to cause people to start gossiping. The affair between the boss and her accountant set tongues a wagging. If you don't get the lawn mowed soon, you will set tongues wagging in the neighborhood.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
set tongues wagging
If something that you do or say sets tongues wagging, it makes people talk about you. The pop singer set tongues wagging by arriving with a mystery man. Note: You can also say that something starts tongues wagging or that tongues start wagging. Tongues started wagging when Claudia moved from her native Germany to Monaco earlier this year. Note: If people are talking about someone, you can say tongues are wagging. They spent an evening together at his Knightsbridge flat. He said they played cards but added: `No doubt tongues will be wagging.'
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
set tongues wagging
be the cause of much gossip or rumour.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
set ˈtongues wagging
(informal) cause people to start talking about somebody’s private affairs: A careless remark about his family really set tongues wagging.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017