get wind of something

idiom

Meaning

Hear news of something secret

Origin

disputed origin

From hunting: animals scent danger carried on the wind; the figurative sense (to hear a rumour) parallels the French 'avoir vent de'.

Examples

SIMPLE

I hope the boss doesn't get wind of our surprise party.

CONTEXTUAL

The company tried to keep the merger secret, but the local newspapers soon got wind of the deal.

COMPLEX

Once the rival firm got wind of the new technology being developed, they immediately increased their own research budget to stay competitive.

Last updated June 7, 2026