noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
baseless rumours/charges/accusations
deny a rumour
▪
Their chief executive denied rumours of the company’s decline.
excite rumours British English , excite rumors AmE:
▪
The photographs excited rumours that their marriage is over.
fuel speculation/rumours/controversy etc
▪
Progress was slow, fueling concerns that the stadium would not be finished on time.
malicious gossip/rumour
▪
Who is responsible for these malicious rumours?
quashed rumours
▪
A hospital chief executive has quashed rumours that people will lose their jobs.
Rumours...circulating
▪
Rumours began circulating that the Prime Minister was seriously ill.
squash rumours/hopes/reports etc (= say that a rumour etc is not true )
▪
The government was quick to squash any hopes of reform.
starting rumours
▪
Other girls were starting rumours about me.
unfounded rumours/claims/allegations etc
▪
Unfounded rumours began circulating that Ian and Susan were having an affair.
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ NOUN
mill
▪
The rumour mill , however, is full of likely failures.
▪
This year the Treasury rumour mill has been working overtime.
■ VERB
hear
▪
I'd be very interested to hear what the next rumour is ... but I don't really have anything to say.
▪
Then you hear a rumour: a woman in the next ward has had a stillbirth.
▪
But if Solveig had heard such a rumour she had not believed it.
▪
He was such a dear old thing, although she had heard a rumour about him and Sylvia.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
rumour/legend/word has it
▪
After all, stranger things have happened: legend has it that the hooked burrs of plants inspired the invention of Velcro.
▪
And rumour has it that the big-name band will be outrageous rockers Guns N' Roses.
▪
But word has it that the Tucson Symphony is taking over the building sometime in mid-December.
▪
His name is cited in the four gospels. Legend has it that he obtained the holy grail from the last supper.
▪
It started with a cross placed along the railroad tracks, where legend has it that he was lynched.
▪
Pass the spliff, mon. Word has it the band is compelling as hell in person.
▪
This was initiated, so legend has it, when the lavatories were out of order.
▪
Turn right to the Cerne Giant viewing point. Legend has it that a real giant terrorised the locals.
rumours/accusations etc are flying
unconfirmed report/story/rumour etc
▪
A U. S. Embassy official said he had unconfirmed reports of 300 dead.
▪
Horrors include the bombing of civilians and unconfirmed reports that napalm has been used.
▪
One unconfirmed report said Hamilton had intended to take the children hostage but that his plan went awry.
▪
Several commercial tests are available but there are few and unconfirmed reports of their efficacy.
▪
The whereabouts of Pastor Tokes remained unclear, amid unconfirmed reports that he had been murdered.
▪
There were unconfirmed reports that two activists were killed.
▪
We have an unconfirmed report of shots fired in the area of Brandenburg Gate.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪
Rumour has it that there will be major job cuts in the new year.
▪
Have you heard the rumour about him and his secretary?
▪
I don't think he's going to resign. It's only a rumour .
▪
Someone's been spreading nasty rumours about me.
▪
The band denied the rumours that they may be splitting up.
▪
The truth finally came out after months of rumour and gossip.
▪
There were rumours of bombings in the northern part of the country.
▪
What's this rumour about you and Vince Foster?
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪
Bored dowagers with wisps snuggling on the shoulders, whispering flattery and malicious rumour in their perfectly sculpted ears.
▪
Despite his wonderfully unattractive and humourless appearance, his exotic origins none the less gave rise to an extraordinary rumour .
▪
I report what I feel, as well as the rumour that is spreading.
▪
If possible, track the rumour back to its origin.
▪
The possibility of penal cancellation charges in the public domain is a rumour .
▪
Their untrained but nervous eyes, and rumour , vastly exaggerated both the ferocity and size of the advancing army.
▪
You find there's nothing to it, a false rumour .