earwig

1. (transitive) To fill the mind of with prejudice by insinuations.transitive

2. (transitive) To attempt to influence by persistent confidential argument or talk.Examples: "In the interim, rest assured that Mr. Atherstone is by no means your friend, for he was perpetually earwigging poor Sir Rowland."; "The hon. gentleman Mr. Reynolds had expressed his fears that the Government would allow themselves to be earwigged out of the money."transitive

3. (intransitive, UK, slang) To eavesdrop.Examples: "He had heard nothing from Fin, or anyone else, since the angry exchange the other night and was worried about how things were going, but he couldn′t ask about the LeMotts, not with Mum earwigging."; "The nameless earwigging writer scrawled in his notebook that “MS and CT also considered that such low life would have a greater pride and satisfaction in life if they could themselves be cooked and served still bleating to rich diners.″"; "This man turned up on the last train, wanting a room, and his name had been odd enough to stay in the children′s minds as they earwigged—not something you ever do, Jonty."UKintransitiveslang

4. (transitive, UK, slang) To eavesdrop on.Examples: "We are meeting at a friendly, higher-end Shanghai brunching spot beloved of expats—cramped and informal enough that one of the three bankers at the next table is cheerfully earwigging our conversation."UKslangtransitive