Gossip

DIRT

Think of what gardeners remove or what might be spread about someone’s reputation—both can leave a mess.

Gossip" is clued as "dirt" because the word plays on two meanings: literal soil and slang for scandalous rumors. In everyday talk, calling someone’s gossip 'dirt' implies they’re sharing juicy, often unflattering details—like digging up and spreading grime. The clue leans on this informal usage, where 'dirt' isn’t about gardening but the messy, unproven stories people pass around.