A Little Bird Told Me

A little bird told me you are interested in learning English phrases.

We use "a little bird told me..." when we don't want to reveal who gave us the information. But we use it in an informal (humorous) way.

For example: "How did you know where I was hiding?" "A little bird told me."

We can also use it to hide where we got the information. For example, if I saw on the calendar that it is your birthday, I might say, "A little bird told me it is your birthday today."

Finally, we can use this phrase to make an informed guess. If I think you look tired, I might say, "A little bird told me you need a coffee."

The idea behind this phrase is that you have been given secret information. Birds can fly around everywhere and make great spies. Imagine if one landed on your shoulder and started telling you secrets about your friends. In World War 1 and 2, pigeons were used to send messages back to France and England. This phrase may have come from these homing pigeons. The exact origin of the phrase is not well known. It may have come from the bible, Norse mythology or the Nightingale by Hans Christian Anderson.

Wherever it came from, "A little bird told me..." is a light-hearted way of hiding your informants.

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