Shhh! The Walls Have Ears!

 

Now it’s time for Words and Their Stories, a program from VOA Learning English.

On this program, we explore common words and expressions in American English. Sometimes we tell you their origins, but we always teach you how to use the words in conversation.

Today, we are going to talk about something bad; in other words, something naughty.

Have you ever listened to a private conversation? Maybe you were standing¹ by a door or in a hallway and you heard people talking about someone else you know. And you could not help it. You paused … you perked² up your ears … and you listened.

You knew, of course, that these people were not speaking to you. They did not invite you to be part of their conversation. You invited yourself. You eavesdropped⁴.

To eavesdrop³ means you secretly listen to the conversations of others. Some types of people are very good at eavesdropping⁵. Nosy⁶ people, people who like to gossip⁷ and spies are all good eavesdroppers. The only difference among my examples is that spies get paid and could get killed for getting an earful.

Originally, however, the word “eavesdrop” had nothing to do with spying or listening to private conversations.

When it was first used in the 1600s, “eavesdrop” was the water that fell, or dropped, from the eaves of a house.

Eaves are the parts of the roof that hang over the walls and shade the outside of a house. After more time passed, “eavesdrop” came to mean the ground near the house where the water fell. After even more time passed, “eavesdropper” described someone who stood near a house to secretly listen to a conversation happening inside.

These days you can be standing anywhere to eavesdrop. The word simply means "to listen secretly to something said in private."

English has another expression related to eavesdropping and the home: the walls have ears. This means be careful what you say as there might be people listening.

Some word experts say this expression may come from story about an ancient Greek ruler (430–367 BC) who had an ear-shaped cave cut and connected between the rooms of his palace. This allowed him to listen to conversations in other rooms.

This form of eavesdropping became common practice with rulers from many cultures. In English, the phrase "the walls have ears" was first recorded in its present form in the mid-1600s.

Now, if you like (or hate) learning English phrasal verbs, there’s a great one for eavesdropping – to listen in on. Usually our phrasal verbs have only one preposition. Not this one. It has two!

When you listen in on something, you listen to people speaking without joining in, usually secretly.

But not always.

You can listen in on a class at university or listen in on a meeting at work. These examples do not suggest that you were listening secretly. But if you are listening in on a private conversation, chances are you are listening to something private that does not concern you. You are not minding your own business.

Now, maybe you were minding your own business. Maybe you just happened to have overheard⁹ a private conversation. Overhearing¹⁰ is more innocent than eavesdropping. You can overhear⁸ something by being in the wrong place at the right time.

Now, let’s listen in on two people talking to learn how to use these words and expressions in a conversation. And it’s okay. We're not eavesdropping. I've given you permission!

So, Amy, I was listening in on the management meeting today. Our manager said that he’s putting your project on hold. You’re thinking about leaving the company, aren’t you?

I haven’t told anyone that except Ann Marie. Did she spill the beans to you?!

No. She didn’t tell me anything. I just happened to overhear you two talking in the cafeteria yesterday.

Were you eavesdropping on our conversation, Alex?!

No! I was walking behind your table and accidentally overheard what you guys were talking about. Honest.

Alex, it was a really long conversation. Unless you were purposefully listening in on us I don’t see how it could have been an accident.

Okay, I was standing behind your table. When I overheard you and Ann Marie talking about your project my ears perked up. So, I stayed there and listened for a little while … okay, for a long while.

Alex, you’re such a snoop! Look, don’t tell anyone. I didn’t accept the other job offer yet. So no one knows, okay?

No one except Ann Marie … and me and …

Urgh! Alex!

And that brings us to the end of this Words and Their Stories.

I'd like to know how you talk about listening to private conversations in your language? Let's talk in the Comments Section ... where the whole world is able to eavesdrop!

I’m Anna Matteo.

Words in This Story

naughty – adj. sometimes used humorously to describe an adult who does something slightly wrong or improper¹¹

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

gossip – v. to talk about the personal lives of other people

eave – n. the lower border of a roof that overhangs the wall —usually used in plural¹²

snoop – v. to look for private information about someone or something : – n. someone who looks for private information about someone or something

perk up your ears – idiomatic phrase : to listen more closely : to lift (the ears) in a quick or alert way, often used figuratively of a person <I perked up my ears [=I began to listen closely] when I heard his name mentioned.>

spill the beans – idiomatic phrase : to let secret information be known : to give away a secret or surprise

1 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

2 perked   

（使）活跃( perk的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）增值； 使更有趣

参考例句：

• The recent demand for houses has perked up the prices. 最近对住房的需求使房价上涨了。
• You've perked up since this morning. 你今天上午精神就好多了。

3 eavesdrop   

v.偷听，倾听

参考例句：

• He ensconced himself in the closet in order to eavesdrop.他藏在壁橱里，以便偷听。
• It is not polite to eavesdrop on the conversation of other people.偷听他人说话是很不礼貌的。

4 eavesdropped   

偷听（别人的谈话）( eavesdrop的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He eavesdropped on our conversation. 他偷听了我们的谈话。
• He has just eavesdropped two sweethearts. 他刚刚偷听了两个情人的谈话。

5 eavesdropping   

n. 偷听

参考例句：

• We caught him eavesdropping outside the window. 我们撞见他正在窗外偷听。
• Suddenly the kids,who had been eavesdropping,flew into the room. 突然间，一直在偷听的孩子们飞进屋来。

6 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。

7 gossip   

n.流言蜚语，爱说长道短的人；vi.传播流言

参考例句：

• She broadcast the gossip all over the town.她将这个流言传遍全镇。
• They spread a lot of tacky gossip about his love life.关于他的爱情生活，他们散播了许多不堪的闲言闲语。

8 overhear   

vt.无意中听到，偷听到

参考例句：

• I happened to overhear what he said.我碰巧听到他说的话。
• They stepped aside so that their child could not overhear their conversation.他们走到一边去，不让孩子听见他们的谈话。

9 overheard   

adj. 串音的, 偶而听到的 动词overhear的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• We talked quietly so as not to be overheard. 我们低声交谈，以免别人听到。
• I told Lucy the news under my breath, but Joyce overheard me. 我低声地把这个消息告诉露西，可还是被乔伊斯听到了。

10 overhearing   

串音

参考例句：

• He might be overhearing her inconsistent remarks. 也许他正在偷听她这些牛头不对马嘴的话呢。
• 'sorry, I cannot help overhearing; do you mention something about the accident? " 对不起，我是无意中听到的，你刚才好像提到了那次事故，是吗？ 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 口语

11 improper   

adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的

参考例句：

• Short trousers are improper at a dance.舞会上穿短裤不成体统。
• Laughing and joking are improper at a funeral.葬礼时大笑和开玩笑是不合适的。

12 plural   

n.复数；复数形式；adj.复数的

参考例句：

• Most plural nouns in English end in's '.英语的复数名词多以s结尾。
• Here you should use plural pronoun.这里你应该用复数代词。