“Eavesdropping” vs “Listen in on”
Is "Eavesdropping" and "Listening in on" different? and if they are in which context should I be using each expression?
listen in (on something) — phrasal verb with listen us /ˈlɪs·ən/ verb [ I ] to listen to someone's conversation when the person does not realize you are doing it:
She thinks her boss is listening in on her phone conversations.
eaves·drop
to secretly listen to a conversation.
"she opened the window just enough to eavesdrop on the conversation
outside"
word-usage
asked 1 hour ago
KyleKyle
1,286216
add a comment |
Is "Eavesdropping" and "Listening in on" different? and if they are in which context should I be using each expression?
listen in (on something) — phrasal verb with listen us /ˈlɪs·ən/ verb [ I ] to listen to someone's conversation when the person does not realize you are doing it:
She thinks her boss is listening in on her phone conversations.
eaves·drop
to secretly listen to a conversation.
"she opened the window just enough to eavesdrop on the conversation
outside"
word-usage
asked 1 hour ago
KyleKyle
1,286216
1
Please always include the source of dictionary definitions (or anything, really) you quote in your post. Thank you!
– userr2684291
11 mins ago
add a comment |
Is "Eavesdropping" and "Listening in on" different? and if they are in which context should I be using each expression?
listen in (on something) — phrasal verb with listen us /ˈlɪs·ən/ verb [ I ] to listen to someone's conversation when the person does not realize you are doing it:
She thinks her boss is listening in on her phone conversations.
eaves·drop
to secretly listen to a conversation.
"she opened the window just enough to eavesdrop on the conversation
outside"
word-usage
asked 1 hour ago
KyleKyle
1,286216
Is "Eavesdropping" and "Listening in on" different? and if they are in which context should I be using each expression?
listen in (on something) — phrasal verb with listen us /ˈlɪs·ən/ verb [ I ] to listen to someone's conversation when the person does not realize you are doing it:
She thinks her boss is listening in on her phone conversations.
eaves·drop
to secretly listen to a conversation.
"she opened the window just enough to eavesdrop on the conversation
outside"
word-usage
word-usage
asked 1 hour ago
KyleKyle
1,286216
asked 1 hour ago
KyleKyle
1,286216
asked 1 hour ago
KyleKyle
1,286216
asked 1 hour ago
KyleKyle
1,286216
asked 1 hour ago
KyleKyle
1,286216
1,286216
1
Please always include the source of dictionary definitions (or anything, really) you quote in your post. Thank you!
– userr2684291
11 mins ago
add a comment |
1
Please always include the source of dictionary definitions (or anything, really) you quote in your post. Thank you!
– userr2684291
11 mins ago
1
1
Please always include the source of dictionary definitions (or anything, really) you quote in your post. Thank you!
– userr2684291
11 mins ago
Please always include the source of dictionary definitions (or anything, really) you quote in your post. Thank you!
– userr2684291
11 mins ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
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They're very similar. I would say that eavesdropping always carries the connotation that the listener is doing something a little wrong; they haven't been invited to any part of the conversation.
Listen in on can have that negative inflection, but it can also refer to something more neutral: "I have my assistant listening in on this conference call to take notes."
answered 1 hour ago
KatyKaty
1,912414
add a comment |
"Listen in" is like "take", while "eavesdrop" is like "steal". For example:
She took a pencil from her coworker's desk
Without context it's impossible to say whether this her behavior is unethical or just convenient. But if you say:
She stole a pencil from her coworker's desk
she clearly knows she's doing something wrong.
In the same way, if you "listen in" on a conversation, you're not necessarily doing anything wrong. It mostly depends on whether the speakers know they are being overheard, or if they expect privacy. For example:
Sitting alone in the cafe, she listened in on the conversations around her. Particularly interesting was a young couple quietly fighting over a pile of unwashed dishes, which apparently one of them had promised to do some days ago.
In this context, "listen in" is slightly naughty, but since it's a public cafe there's not really any expectation that other people won't hear you. However if instead you wrote:
Sitting alone in the cafe, she eavesdropped on the conversations around her.
This is definitely naughty, as she knows the conversations are not meant for her ears, but she's listening anyway. Same context, different nuance.
answered 22 mins ago
AndrewAndrew
70.8k678154
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
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active
oldest
votes
They're very similar. I would say that eavesdropping always carries the connotation that the listener is doing something a little wrong; they haven't been invited to any part of the conversation.
Listen in on can have that negative inflection, but it can also refer to something more neutral: "I have my assistant listening in on this conference call to take notes."
answered 1 hour ago
KatyKaty
1,912414
add a comment |
They're very similar. I would say that eavesdropping always carries the connotation that the listener is doing something a little wrong; they haven't been invited to any part of the conversation.
Listen in on can have that negative inflection, but it can also refer to something more neutral: "I have my assistant listening in on this conference call to take notes."
answered 1 hour ago
KatyKaty
1,912414
add a comment |
They're very similar. I would say that eavesdropping always carries the connotation that the listener is doing something a little wrong; they haven't been invited to any part of the conversation.
Listen in on can have that negative inflection, but it can also refer to something more neutral: "I have my assistant listening in on this conference call to take notes."
answered 1 hour ago
KatyKaty
1,912414
They're very similar. I would say that eavesdropping always carries the connotation that the listener is doing something a little wrong; they haven't been invited to any part of the conversation.
Listen in on can have that negative inflection, but it can also refer to something more neutral: "I have my assistant listening in on this conference call to take notes."
answered 1 hour ago
KatyKaty
1,912414
answered 1 hour ago
KatyKaty
1,912414
answered 1 hour ago
KatyKaty
1,912414
answered 1 hour ago
KatyKaty
1,912414
1,912414
add a comment |
add a comment |
"Listen in" is like "take", while "eavesdrop" is like "steal". For example:
She took a pencil from her coworker's desk
Without context it's impossible to say whether this her behavior is unethical or just convenient. But if you say:
She stole a pencil from her coworker's desk
she clearly knows she's doing something wrong.
In the same way, if you "listen in" on a conversation, you're not necessarily doing anything wrong. It mostly depends on whether the speakers know they are being overheard, or if they expect privacy. For example:
Sitting alone in the cafe, she listened in on the conversations around her. Particularly interesting was a young couple quietly fighting over a pile of unwashed dishes, which apparently one of them had promised to do some days ago.
In this context, "listen in" is slightly naughty, but since it's a public cafe there's not really any expectation that other people won't hear you. However if instead you wrote:
Sitting alone in the cafe, she eavesdropped on the conversations around her.
This is definitely naughty, as she knows the conversations are not meant for her ears, but she's listening anyway. Same context, different nuance.
answered 22 mins ago
AndrewAndrew
70.8k678154
add a comment |
"Listen in" is like "take", while "eavesdrop" is like "steal". For example:
She took a pencil from her coworker's desk
Without context it's impossible to say whether this her behavior is unethical or just convenient. But if you say:
She stole a pencil from her coworker's desk
she clearly knows she's doing something wrong.
In the same way, if you "listen in" on a conversation, you're not necessarily doing anything wrong. It mostly depends on whether the speakers know they are being overheard, or if they expect privacy. For example:
Sitting alone in the cafe, she listened in on the conversations around her. Particularly interesting was a young couple quietly fighting over a pile of unwashed dishes, which apparently one of them had promised to do some days ago.
In this context, "listen in" is slightly naughty, but since it's a public cafe there's not really any expectation that other people won't hear you. However if instead you wrote:
Sitting alone in the cafe, she eavesdropped on the conversations around her.
This is definitely naughty, as she knows the conversations are not meant for her ears, but she's listening anyway. Same context, different nuance.
answered 22 mins ago
AndrewAndrew
70.8k678154
add a comment |
"Listen in" is like "take", while "eavesdrop" is like "steal". For example:
She took a pencil from her coworker's desk
Without context it's impossible to say whether this her behavior is unethical or just convenient. But if you say:
She stole a pencil from her coworker's desk
she clearly knows she's doing something wrong.
In the same way, if you "listen in" on a conversation, you're not necessarily doing anything wrong. It mostly depends on whether the speakers know they are being overheard, or if they expect privacy. For example:
Sitting alone in the cafe, she listened in on the conversations around her. Particularly interesting was a young couple quietly fighting over a pile of unwashed dishes, which apparently one of them had promised to do some days ago.
In this context, "listen in" is slightly naughty, but since it's a public cafe there's not really any expectation that other people won't hear you. However if instead you wrote:
Sitting alone in the cafe, she eavesdropped on the conversations around her.
This is definitely naughty, as she knows the conversations are not meant for her ears, but she's listening anyway. Same context, different nuance.
answered 22 mins ago
AndrewAndrew
70.8k678154
"Listen in" is like "take", while "eavesdrop" is like "steal". For example:
She took a pencil from her coworker's desk
Without context it's impossible to say whether this her behavior is unethical or just convenient. But if you say:
She stole a pencil from her coworker's desk
she clearly knows she's doing something wrong.
In the same way, if you "listen in" on a conversation, you're not necessarily doing anything wrong. It mostly depends on whether the speakers know they are being overheard, or if they expect privacy. For example:
Sitting alone in the cafe, she listened in on the conversations around her. Particularly interesting was a young couple quietly fighting over a pile of unwashed dishes, which apparently one of them had promised to do some days ago.
In this context, "listen in" is slightly naughty, but since it's a public cafe there's not really any expectation that other people won't hear you. However if instead you wrote:
Sitting alone in the cafe, she eavesdropped on the conversations around her.
This is definitely naughty, as she knows the conversations are not meant for her ears, but she's listening anyway. Same context, different nuance.
answered 22 mins ago
AndrewAndrew
70.8k678154
answered 22 mins ago
AndrewAndrew
70.8k678154
answered 22 mins ago
AndrewAndrew
70.8k678154
answered 22 mins ago
AndrewAndrew
70.8k678154
70.8k678154
add a comment |
add a comment |
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1
Please always include the source of dictionary definitions (or anything, really) you quote in your post. Thank you!
– userr2684291
11 mins ago