jungle telegraph en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) A system used by primitive cultures in remote tropical regions for communication over long distances, such as drum sounds or a relay of runners.
Working both sides of the stream, they got native chieftains to pass the word by jungle telegraph.
1958 August 11, “Live Virus in the Jungle”, in Times:
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(idiomatic) A gossip network; an informal communication system within a group or organization.
And the jungle telegraph at Bryant Park is alive with rumors that the show's biggest name, Lauren Conrad, will be here any day.
2008, Lisa Marsh "‘Hills’ Under Tents," New York Post, 5 Feb. (retrieved 19 Sep. 2008)
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| jungle telegraphs | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Synonyms
grapevine (gossip) · bush telegraph (gossip) · rumor mill (gossip) · bush telegraph (communication system used by primitive cultures)