What does "Rumour mill" mean?

The informal network through which gossip spreads Metaphor for how rumors spread through a group or community, like grain through a mill.

How do you use "Rumour mill" in a sentence?

According to the rumour mill... The office rumour mill is working overtime. Don't believe everything from the rumour mill. The rumour mill says they're dating.

Rumour mill

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

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Meaning: The informal network through which gossip spreads

传闻工厂、八卦传播网络

La red informal a través de la cual se difunden los chismes

噂の製造所、ゴシップネットワーク

소문 공장, 가십 네트워크

Metaphor for how rumors spread through a group or community, like grain through a mill.

比喻谣言如何在群体或社区中传播，就像谷物通过磨坊一样。

Metáfora de cómo los rumores se difunden a través de un grupo o comunidad, como grano a través de un molino.

噂がグループやコミュニティに広がる様子の比喩。穀物が製粉所を通るように。

소문이 집단이나 커뮤니티를 통해 퍼져나가는 과정을 비유한 표현으로, 곡식이 방앗간을 거치듯 소문이 퍼지는 비공식적 네트워크를 의미한다.

Examples

According to the rumour mill...
据传闻说...
Según el molino de rumores...
噂の製造所によると...
소문 공장에 따르면...
The office rumour mill is working overtime.
办公室传闻工厂正在加班。
El molino de rumores de la oficina trabaja horas extra.
オフィスの噂製造所が残業中。
사무실 소문 공장이 풀가동 중이야.
Don't believe everything from the rumour mill.
别相信传闻工厂的一切。
No creas todo del molino de rumores.
噂の製造所を全部信じないで。
소문 공장에서 나오는 걸 다 믿지 마.
The rumour mill says they're dating.
传闻说他们在约会。
El molino de rumores dice que están saliendo.
噂では彼らは付き合っているらしい。
소문에 의하면 그들이 사귀고 있대.

Pronunciation

/ˈruːmər mɪl/

Usage Guide

Context: workplace, social, news

Tone: often skeptical

✓ Do Say

Rumour mill.
传闻工厂
Molino de rumores
噂の製造所
소문 공장.
The rumour mill says...
传闻说...
El molino de rumores dice...
噂の製造所によると...
소문 공장에 의하면...
According to the rumour mill.
据传闻工厂说
Según el molino de rumores
噂では
소문 공장에 따르면.

✗ Don't Say

Implies unreliability
暗示不可靠
Implica falta de confiabilidad
信頼性がないことを示唆
신뢰할 수 없음을 암시
Universal expression
通用表达
Expresión universal
世界共通の表現
보편적인 표현

Common Mistakes

British spelling: rumour, American: rumor
Implies gossip may be unreliable

Origin & History

From the image of a mill grinding out rumors continuously. Universal expression.

Etymology: From mill grinding out rumors

First recorded: Modern idiom from 20th century

Cultural Context

Era: 20th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Office culture; Universal expression

Regional notes: Universal. British spelling 'rumour,' American 'rumor.'

Variations

Rumour millRumor millThe rumour mill