walls have ears; beware of eavesdroppers
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
walls have ears; there may be listeners leaning against the wall (warning that private conversations may be overheard)
literaryA classical idiom used as a warning that one's conversation may be overheard by eavesdroppers. More formal and literary than the synonymous 隔墙有耳.
Shǔ属
yuán垣
yǒu有
ěr耳
，
shuō说
huà话
yào要
xiǎo小
xīn心
。
Walls have ears, so speak carefully.
Xū须
zhī知
shǔ属
yuán垣
yǒu有
ěr耳
，
jī机
mì密
de的
shì事
bù不
kě可
zài在
cǐ此
tán谈
lùn论
。
You should know that walls have ears; confidential matters should not be discussed here.
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Tā他
fù附
ěr耳
dī低
yǔ语
：
"
Shǔ属
yuán垣
yǒu有
ěr耳
，
wǒ我
men们
hái还
shì是
lìng另
xún寻
pì僻
chù处
。
"
He whispered close to the ear: "Walls have ears, let's find another secluded place."