caught wind of

USAGE SUMMARY

"caught wind of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to hearing something from another source. Example: I caught wind of the news that a new store was opening in the mall.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The bishop, naturally, caught wind of it.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Jobs caught wind of the probe and called Google.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Before long, the Princetonian caught wind of the controversy.

The New Yorker

Has the government caught wind of a smallpox plot?

The New York Times

Mr. Miller's neighbors caught wind of his plans through public notices.

The New York Times

But students said they caught wind of plans to interrupt Mr. Oren's speech.

The New York Times

British intelligence had caught wind of an Al Qaeda operation in 2008.

The New Yorker

It was not long before the Police Department caught wind of the project.

The New York Times

Technology Review recently caught wind of IBM's expansion of the Mobile Health Tool Kit.

MIT Technology Review

Trump caught wind of the piece, Eskridge told The Post, and wanted to call.

The Washington Post

When Fallon caught wind of the phrase, an idea was born.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

This idiom works best in narrative writing or journalism where you want to emphasize the indirect or informal way the information was obtained.

Common error

In strictly scientific or legal contexts, "caught wind of" can appear too informal or imprecise. Instead, use more literal verbs such as "detected", "identified" or "observed" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "caught wind of" functions as an idiomatic phrasal verb in the past tense. According to Ludwig AI, it is primarily used to denote the indirect acquisition of information. It follows the pattern [Subject] + [Verb Phrase] + [Preposition] + [Noun Phrase].

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "caught wind of" is a highly versatile and correct English idiom used to describe the act of hearing a rumor or getting preliminary information. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread presence in prestigious publications like The New Yorker and The New York Times, particularly when reporting on tech leaks, political maneuvers, or social controversies. While it is perfectly acceptable in most writing, authors should be mindful of its slightly informal tone in technical contexts. Alternatives like "learned of" provide a safer choice for strictly formal documents, but "caught wind of" remains the gold standard for adding narrative flair to the discovery of information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

got wind of

Interchangeable variation using 'got' instead of 'caught', common in both US and UK English.

heard rumors of

More specific about the source being unverified talk or gossip.

learned of

A more neutral and direct way to describe becoming aware of a fact.

became aware of

More formal and passive, often used in professional or academic reporting.

found out about

A common phrasal verb that is slightly more general than the target idiom.

received word of

A formal way to state that information was communicated to the subject.

caught scent of

A related sensory metaphor that implies a more active or investigative pursuit.

picked up on

Suggests detecting subtle clues or noticing something that was not explicitly stated.

stumbled upon

Suggests the discovery was accidental rather than through indirect reports.

was alerted to

Implies a more formal notification or a specific warning from another party.

FAQs

Is "caught wind of" formal enough for an essay?

While it is frequently found in high-quality journalism like The New Yorker, for a very formal academic paper you might prefer "became aware of" or "learned of".

What is the difference between "caught wind of" and "got wind of"?

There is virtually no difference in meaning. "got wind of" is simply a common variant that is equally correct in most contexts.

Can I use "caught wind of" for a physical smell?

No, this is an idiom specifically for information or rumors. If you literally smell something, you should use "caught the scent of" or simply "smelled".

Does "caught wind of" imply the news was a secret?

Usually, yes. It suggests the information was not yet public or was obtained through "random chatter" or unofficial leaks.