Get wind of something
Channel: English Unpacked
Date: 2024-02-23

The idiom "get wind of something" means to hear or learn about something, often through rumors or unofficial sources. It implies that you have gained knowledge or information about a particular situation or event, usually before it becomes widely known or official. This idiom is commonly used in informal or conversational English.
Here are a few examples to illustrate the usage of this idiom:
1. Sarah got wind of the upcoming job cuts before they were announced officially. She heard it from a friend who works in the company.
   In this example, Sarah learned about the job cuts before they were officially announced, indicating that she got wind of the news through unofficial channels.
2. The journalist managed to get wind of a scandal involving a prominent politician and broke the news before anyone else.
   In this case, the journalist heard about the scandal before it was widely known, allowing them to report on it before others.
3. The students got wind of the surprise test when they overheard their teacher talking about it in the hallway.
   Here, the students learned about the surprise test by accidentally overhearing their teacher's conversation, giving them advance knowledge of the test.
4. Mark got wind of his girlfriend's plan to throw him a surprise birthday party. He pretended to be unaware to keep the surprise intact.
   In this instance, Mark found out about the surprise party in advance, but he acted as if he had no knowledge to maintain the surprise for his birthday.
Overall, the idiom "get wind of something" is used to express the idea of receiving information or knowledge about something through unofficial or informal means, often before it becomes widely known.