earwigging

Verb

earwig (third-person singular simple present earwigs, present participle earwigging, simple past and past participle earwigged)

1. (transitive) To fill the mind of with prejudice by insinuations.
2. (transitive) To attempt to influence by persistent confidential argument or talk.
   • In the interim, rest assured that Mr. Atherstone is by no means your friend, for he was perpetually earwigging poor Sir Rowland.1831 November, Edward Lancaster, “Appearances”, in The Ladies′ Museum, page 202
3. (UK, intransitive, slang) To eavesdrop.
   • 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.2007, Russell K. Lewis, In a Moment...: Book One of the Ley of the Land, page 381
4. (UK, slang, transitive) To eavesdrop on.
   • 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.2017 December 1, Leo Lewis, “Eric Cantona on seagulls, fixing Man Utd and why you can't buy passion”, in Financial Times

See all 7 meanings of earwig