scuttlebutt
11
8.8
- noun
- /ˈskʌtəlˌbʌt/
- Informal
:
rumor
- Is that confirmed, or is that just scuttlebutt?
- hear the scuttlebutt
- Scuttlebutt says
- lot of scuttlebutt
But I learned that years later, in this case, we heard a scuttlebutt.
- But I learned that years later, in this case, we heard a scuttlebutt.
Examples
-
"Scuttlebutt has it that you charmed them all," he said.
Fiction book (1994) -
So much of the scuttlebutt around movies is usually half-truths.
Blog text (10) -
According to the department scuttlebutt, he was supposed to have something going with a woman professor over there.
Fiction book (1993) -
There is scuttlebutt that the current governor may run for president.
Blog text (34) -
I hear all the scuttlebutt that goes on around the halls.
-
The men talked about past experiences, shared scuttlebutt about the coming campaign, and repeated the latest news from Europe.
Fiction book (1990) -
The scuttlebutt is that they will be mostly discussing matters internal to the Church in America.
Blog text (7) -
Now I've heard a lot of scuttlebutt about a food shortage.
Fiction book (1998) -
Apparently, the scuttlebutt is that the yearly WWE talent purge is happening soon.
Blog text (34) -
The latest scuttlebutt around the office is that a big merger is in the works.
Synonyms
868
3.2
Informal conversation about other people that may not be true
184
1.1
Informal talk about other people's private lives, often with rumors
135
4.8
Secret information that harms someone's reputation
28
7.0
Rumors told by other people that may not be true
27
7.8
Rumors people tell each other about events or people
27
3.5
Rumor spread by people talking rather than by officials
7
4.5
A group or network that spreads gossip and stories not checked for truth
1
1.9
The most recent private news or rumors about people
News people share that is not official, often as a rumor
Rumors people tell that are not proven true
A false story people spread by talking
Light, silly talk about other people
A harmful, quickly spreading story that causes distrust and trouble
Antonyms
How Reliable
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Scuttlebutt comes from life on ships: a butt was a 'barrel' of drinking water and a scuttle was the hole or tap to get it, so sailors stood around the barrel and exchanged news. That's why scuttlebutt came to mean 'gossip' or 'rumor'.