Prick ears up

Meaning

The idiom "prick ears up" means to become interested or pay attention to something, especially suddenly. It can also mean to be on high alert or ready for action.

Usage

• "The news of the impending storm pricked my ears up, and I immediately started preparing." (The idiom suggests that the speaker is alerted by the news and starts preparing.)
• "When she saw her favorite band on the billboard, her ears pricked up with excitement." (The idiom suggests that the speaker becomes excited by seeing her favorite band.)
• "I prick my ears up when I hear someone speak in another language. It's fascinating to me." (The idiom suggests that the speaker is alerted by the sound of another language and becomes fascinated by it.)
• "When I see a bird flying, my ears prick up, and I immediately start looking for it." (The idiom suggests that the speaker becomes alerted by seeing a bird fly and starts looking for it.)
• "I prick my ears up when I hear someone talk about politics. It's fascinating to me how many different opinions there are." (The idiom suggests that the speaker is alerted by the sound of political discussions and becomes fascinated by them.)

Roots and History

The origin of the phrase "prick your ears up" dates back to the late 18th century. It was first used in a collection of proverbs in 1770, where it was described as meaning "to listen attentively." Over time, the idiom evolved to mean "to become interested or alerted suddenly," and today it is commonly used in modern language.

Synonyms in English

• "lift an eyebrow,"
• "pay attention."

Synonyms in other languages

• French: "s'intéresser" (to become interested)
• Spanish: "convertir la mirada" (to turn your attention to something)
• German: "aufmerksam werden" (to pay attention)
• Italian: "acquistare attenzione" (to acquire attention)
• Portuguese: "adquirir atenção" (to acquire attention)

Similar Idioms

• in a clover

• don’t look a gift horse in the mouth

• dog eat dog