a little bird told me

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiominformalhumorous

   Said when you know something but do not want to reveal who told you.

   Grammar: A fixed phrase, usually a full sentence on its own.

   Patterns

   • A little bird told me (that) something

   A little bird told me you got the job.

   How did I know about the party? A little bird told me.

   A little bird told me that someone is turning thirty.

2. 2phraseidiominformal

   Used playfully to hint that you have heard gossip or a secret.

   Grammar: Can be followed by a teasing question.

   Patterns

   • A little bird told me that...

   A little bird told me you've been taking dance lessons.

   Oh, a little bird told me there's a surprise coming.

   A little bird told me you're moving to Spain.

Common combinations

a little bird told me that

A little bird told me that you passed your exam.

say a little bird told you

If anyone asks, just say a little bird told you.

a little bird told me so

How do I know? A little bird told me so.

smile and say a little bird

He smiled and said a little bird told him.

my little bird

My little bird in accounting says there will be bonuses.

Synonyms and how they differ

I heard it through the grapevine

Heard it through the grapevine suggests news traveled by gossip, while a little bird implies a hidden source.

word has it

Word has it is a neutral way to report a rumor, and it does not tease.

a source told me

A source told me is plainer and sounds more like reporting.

I'm not telling

I'm not telling refuses directly, whereas a little bird refuses playfully.

Word family

bird noun

an animal with feathers

little adjective

small

grapevine noun

an informal way news spreads

tell verb

to give information

Commonly confused: a little bird told me or early bird?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “a little bird told me”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words