Everyone has a secret

​“Strong minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, weak minds discuss people.” 
― Socrates

How to talk about secrets and news.

People love gossiping. Either you are a gossip or they gossip about you. Learn a handful of phrases to describe the very act of gossiping.

to confide  - zwierzyć się
- to tell something secret or personal to someone who you trust not to tell anyone else

My friend confided to me that she was pregnant.


to drop a bombshell - oznajmić złą wiadomość
- to announce a sudden and often unpleasant piece of news

My son dropped a bombshell by informing us that he was going abroad.


eavesdrop (on a conversation) - podsłuchać
- to listen to someone's private conversation without them knowing:

He was eavesdropping on our conversation.


to overhear - przypadkowo podsłyszeć
- to hear what other people are saying without intending to and without their knowledge

I accidentally overheard them say they were going to fire you.


to gossip - plotkować
- to talk about other people's private lives

The employees started to gossip about their affair.


a gossip (gossipmonger)  - plotkarz
- someone who enjoys talking about other people and their private lives

My mum is  a terrible gossip.


indiscreet - niedyskretny
- saying things that should be secret

The actor was rather indiscreet about his relationship.


a rumour - pogłoska
- an unofficial interesting story or piece of news that might be true, and quickly spreads from person to person

Rumours are going round about CEO and his assistant.
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to tell in the strictest confidence - w największej tajemnicy
- expecting not to tell it anyone else

I'm telling you this in the strictest confidence.


be the soul of discretion - uosobienie dyskrecji
- a person who keeps a secret

Don't worry, I'm the soul of discretion when it comes to delicate matters.


to breathe a word to somebody - pisnąć słowko
- to reveal the secret

You cannot breathe a word of this to anybody.


don't quote me on this - nie powołuj się na mnie
- do not tell other people I said this

Don't quote me on this, but I saw our neighbour cheat on his wife.


it's very hush-hush - to ściścle tajne
- highly confidential

It's very hush-hush, don't tell anyone!



be under wraps - trzymać w tajemnicy, zamieść pod dywan
- keep as a secret

These incidents have to be kept under wraps, or we will lose our jobs.



hear on the grapevine - uslyszeć pocztą pantoflową
- find out about something unofficially

I heard on the grapevine he is being promoted.