make (someone's) ears burn
make (someone's) ears burn
To make someone uncomfortable, embarrassed, or disconcerted by what is being said. Alludes to the ears growing red from blushing. Listening to my aunts and uncles coo over me at my high school graduation really made my ears burn. I was raised in a very strict household, so even to this day hearing someone say something vulgar makes my ears burn.
See also: burn, ear, make
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
- back number
- a back number
- drum (something) into one's head, to
- can-shaker
- aback
- be set aback
- be taken aback
- be pushing up (the) daisies
- be pushing up daisies
- be pushing up the daisies