Get wind of something means to learn about something, usually before it is officially announced or when it is still supposed to be secret. It often suggests that the information spread informally, through rumor, a leak, or private talk.
The image behind the idiom is old. In hunting, animals and hunters could detect one another by scent carried on the wind. In sailing and other older uses, the wind also signaled what was nearby or what conditions were coming. That connection helps explain the modern meaning: someone senses news early, before everyone else knows it.
This idiom is common in journalism, business, and everyday conversation. It is often used when people discover plans, problems, or surprises ahead of time.
- She got wind of the merger before the official announcement.
- If investors get wind of the change, the story could spread quickly.
- The neighbors got wind of the surprise party, but they kept quiet.
People usually say get wind of something, not simply get wind. The phrase often carries a feeling of secrecy, early knowledge, or unofficial information.
