Idioms containing EAR
TOP words in categories
(TO BE) MUSIC TO ONE'S EARS
smth. that is very pleasant to hear, good news
1. When she said they would make a profit, it was music to Richard’s ears.
2. His news is music to my ears.
2. His news is music to my ears.
BE ALL EARS
to be waiting eagerly to hear about smth.
1. I'm all ears - tell us what they had to say.
2. A lot of directors don't pay much attention to the actors, but he's all ears.
2. A lot of directors don't pay much attention to the actors, but he's all ears.
BEND (SOMEONE'S) EAR
to talk to someone for a long time
1. I dread it every time that woman calls me on the telephone because she bends my ear about how her children don’t appreciate her.
2. Don’t mention politics to Bill. He loves talking about politics and he’ll bend your ear about it for hours.
2. Don’t mention politics to Bill. He loves talking about politics and he’ll bend your ear about it for hours.
FALL ON DEAF EARS
to be heard but ignored, or to be heard but to have no effect
1. Ashley went to the bank to beg for a loan because she had no job, but no one would listen to her. Her pleas fell on deaf ears.
2. The young husband tried to tell his wife why he was late getting home, but his excuse fell on deaf ears
2. The young husband tried to tell his wife why he was late getting home, but his excuse fell on deaf ears
LEND/GIVE (SOMEONE) AN/(ONE'S) EAR
to listen to someone
1. The boss walked into the coffee room where we were chatting and asked us to lend him an ear He wanted us to listen to what he had to say.
2. All the children pulled on the teacher’s skirt, begging to hear the news. She finally told them that if they gave her an ear, she would tell them what they wanted to hear.
2. All the children pulled on the teacher’s skirt, begging to hear the news. She finally told them that if they gave her an ear, she would tell them what they wanted to hear.
MAKE A PIG'S EAR OF SMTH.
to do smth. badly, wrongly, or awkwardly
1. He's made a real pig's ear of that bookcase he was supposed to be making.
2. I'm going to need to start this table over again from scratch—I really made a pig's ear of it.
2. I'm going to need to start this table over again from scratch—I really made a pig's ear of it.
PLAY IT BY EAR
to go along with a situation as it develops before deciding what to do; to do smth. without prior planning
1. Let’s get in the car and go for a drive. We don’t have to decide before we start where we’re going; let’s just play it by ear.
2. I’m going to watch to see how the situation develops and decide what to do as I go along. I want to play it by ear and see what happens.
2. I’m going to watch to see how the situation develops and decide what to do as I go along. I want to play it by ear and see what happens.
TALK (SOMEONE'S) EAR OFF
to bore someone with one’s unending talk
1. I try to keep my office door closed so that Jim won’t come in. When he does, he talks my ear off and I can’t get any work done.
2. Doug tried to signal me to interrupt his one-way conversation with Rita. It was obvious that she was talking his ear off and he was too polite to end the conversation.
2. Doug tried to signal me to interrupt his one-way conversation with Rita. It was obvious that she was talking his ear off and he was too polite to end the conversation.
TURN A DEAF EAR
to ignore someone
1. The child had been whining and crying all day. Eventually his mother turned a deaf ear and ignored him.
2. Grandfather has always been quarrelsome and difficult. He loves to complain to anyone who will listen. You just have to turn a deaf ear if you want to live in the same house with him.
2. Grandfather has always been quarrelsome and difficult. He loves to complain to anyone who will listen. You just have to turn a deaf ear if you want to live in the same house with him.
WET BEHIND THE EARS
young and inexperienced
1. Ben is new to this business. He’s wet behind the ears.
2. They haven’t had much experience teaching yet. They’re still wet behind the ears.
2. They haven’t had much experience teaching yet. They’re still wet behind the ears.
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