Definition of rumour mill

The expression "rumour mill" is a figurative phrase that refers to the process by which rumours and speculation about people, events, or situations circulate and spread rapidly as if they were being ground out by a machine. The original image of a grinding mill with water or wind power, where grain was processed into flour, has been adapted over time to convey the idea of something recurrent and relentless that creates a false narrative or unsubstantiated information. The precise origin of the phrase is uncertain, but it appears to have entered English usage in the mid-20th century, becoming popular during the era of mass media and celebrity culture. It has been attributed to various sources, including the British journalist and broadcaster Marie Colvin, who used the term in an article for The Sunday Times in 1982, and the American poet Raymond Carver, who wrote about the "rumor mill" in his 1959 collection, "Lost Rivers: A Cycle of Ten Poems". Regardless of its origin, the metaphorical use of "rumour mill" has become a common and familiar expression in modern English, conveying a sense of mechanical efficiency and unstoppable recurrence in the spread of gossip or false information. It has been applied to various contexts, from politics and show business to sports and popular culture, reminding us of the power of fashioning fiction out of mere hearsay.