Eavesdrop on other people

[Rachel Adams]

Is it unnecessary to include "conversations" in my sentence? Can I use "on other people" only?

"She never eavesdrops on other people's conversations."

 

[GoesStation]

Yes, you can. The longer sentence is fine, though.

 

[emsr2d2]

If you include "conversations", you exclude the possibility of her eavesdropping on people who are alone and who are perhaps talking to themselves, or singing along to the radio.

 

[Yankee]

If you include "conversations", you exclude the possibility of her eavesdropping on people who are alone and who are perhaps talking to themselves, or singing along to the radio.

I can't imagine "eavesdropping on people who are alone and who are perhaps talking to themselves, or singing along to the radio".

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

You can't eavesdrop on yourself.

So you can just say: "She never eavesdrops."

It means exactly the same thing. We know it's on other people.

 

[emsr2d2]

I can't imagine "eavesdropping on people who are alone and who are perhaps talking to themselves, or singing along to the radio".

I don't see why not! If you're in the habit of eavesdropping on your neighbours, for example, you might well listen in on them no matter what they're doing.

 

[Yankee]

I don't see why not! If you're in the habit of eavesdropping on your neighbours, for example, you might well listen in on them no matter what they're doing.

Well, as I used to tell my kids when they were busily doing nothing, I would tell the eavesdropper, "Go find something to do". :-|