verb
earwig
To listen secretly to someone's conversation.
He pauses outside the kitchen to earwig on their conversation.
Etymology
The insect name acquired uses involving the ear and private speech. In this sense it means listening in on another person’s conversation without being invited.
More examples
- She pretends to read while earwigging on the neighbors' conversation.
- I caught him earwigging outside the meeting room.
- They earwigged on our conversation from behind the open door.
Forms
earwig · earwigs · earwigged · earwigging
Similar words
- eavesdrop
- The usual word for secretly listening to other people's conversations.
- overhear
- Often means hearing accidentally, without deliberately listening in secret.