汉语中习惯将非官方发布，而是道听途说的消息和传闻称为“小道消息”，泛指没有根据的传闻（hearsay；rumour；gossip）。

与英文习语“hear (something) on the grapevine”意思相近，表示“To hear or learn of something through an informal means of communication, especially gossip.”

例句：

我听小道消息说斯泰西和马克要离婚了。

I heard on the grapevine that Stacy and Mark are getting a divorce.

A：“你怎么知道公司要破产了？”

A: "How do you know the company is going bust?"

B：“我听小道消息说的。”

B: "I heard it on the grapevine."