GOSSIP: SUBTLE POISON
Charles Bridges in his commentary on Proverbs explains it this way: "We may seem to make light of the tale brought to our ears, and wholly to despise it. But the subtle poison has worked. 'Suppose it should be true. Perhaps, though it may be exaggerated, there may be some ground for it.' The thought indulged for only a moment brings suspicion, distrust, coldness: and often it ends in the separation of chief friends."