Grapevine原意為葡萄樹、葡萄藤,現在常用來表示(秘密或謠言等)不脛而走。例如:
1. They were told to desist from spreading grapevine news.
已告訴他們停止散布小道消息。
2. I heard on the grapevine that you're leaving.
我聽小道消息說你要離開。
hush hush 是形容詞,意思是機密的,秘而不宣的。例如:
They managed to keep the scandal very hush hush but then a newspaper reporter found out about it.
他們試圖使這件丑聞不被外泄,但后來被一位記者發現了。
by the grapevine通過小道消息得來
You must have heard it by the grapevine.
你一定是道聽途說。