prick up your ears

prick up (one's) ears

1. Literally, of an animal, to raise its ears, as upon hearing a sudden noise. The dogs pricked up their ears and started staring outside. I wonder what they heard.
2. To pay sudden close attention to something one overhears. Be sure to prick up your ears if anything about the case is mentioned. I can't help but prick up my ears if I hear someone say my name—even if they aren't talking about me.
See also: ear, prick, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

prick up your ears

If someone pricks up their ears, they start listening eagerly, because they suddenly hear an interesting sound or piece of information. Olivia pricked up her ears at the mention of James. Note: You can also say that someone's ears prick up. My ears pricked up when I heard her talk about food. Note: When animals such as dogs hear a sudden or unfamiliar noise, they prick up their ears; that is, their ears become more upright so that they can hear the sound better.
See also: ear, prick, up
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

prick up your ears

1 (especially of a horse or dog) make the ears stand erect when on the alert. 2 (of a person) become suddenly attentive.
See also: ear, prick, up
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

ˌprick up your ˈears

,

your ˈears prick up

start to listen carefully: ‘And the winner is ...’ He pricked up his ears. ‘... Michael Poole.’
This expression refers to the way dogs, horses and other animals raise their ears when they listen with attention.
See also: ear, prick, up
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • prick up (one's) ears
  • prick up ears
  • prick up its ears
  • prick up one's ears
  • prick up one's ears, to
  • prick up
  • get (one's) ears lowered
  • pop (one's) ears
  • lower
  • prick (one's) ears up
References in classic literature
"When His Majesty speaks to you," the Sentinel hastily whispered to Bruno, "you should prick up your ears!"
Sylvie and Bruno
PRICK UP YOUR EARS LEE STAFFORD'S Cactus Crush Dazzle Drops are a nongreasy, lightweight serum, perfect for lack lustre hair.
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PRICK UP YOUR EARS LEE STAFFORD'S Cactus Crush Dazzle Drops are a non-greasy, lightweight serum, perfect for lack lustre hair.
BEAUTY BUZZ
Career Molina's movie breakthrough came in 1987 when he played Kenneth Halliwell, the tragic lover of playwright Joe Orton, in Stephen Frears' Prick Up Your Ears. He was also outstanding in Enchanted April, The Perez Family, Tolstoy's Anna Karenina and Chocolat.
up close with ... ALFRED MOLINA
London, Oct 13 (ANI): Matt Lucas has pulled out of the West End play Prick Up Your Ears following the death of his ex-partner Kevin McGee.
Disheartened Matt Lucas quits West End play after ex-partner 's death
Summary: Little Britain star Matt Lucas will not return to his stage role in Prick Up Your Ears following the death of his ex-partner.
Matt Lucas quits play after Kevin McGee's suicide
Lucas temporarily left the west end production Prick Up Your Ears last week after the suicide of Kevin McGee.
Grieving Matt to quit play
THIS month's Outsiders' screening is Prick Up Your Ears, the bio-pic about brilliant playwright Joe Orton.
Listen up; Out & About
Stephen Frears (Prick Up Your Ears, My Beautiful Laundrette) directs.
Film
I knew Chris played the guitar and sang but I had no idea that his group Prick Up Your Ears, which also "stars" Mike Wilson, Sky's financial wizard, was so good.
James Whitaker's Column: New Rocker Role
John Lahr's Prick Up Your Ears: The Biography of Joe Orton was published in 1978.
Orton, Joe
I started reading Prick Up Your Ears at one point and had to put it down in panic because I was identifying so strongly w/ the boyfriend's story.
Sometimes I think I'd rather be a movie star than an artist
Prick Up Your Ears is both abiography of and an homage to the English playwright Joe Orton, who was killed in 1967, at the age of 34, by his lover, Kenneth Halliwell.
Prick up your ears
6 PRICK UP YOUR EARS (1987) THE destructive relationship of Loot and Entertaining Mr Sloane playwright Joe Orton and his older lover Kenneth Halliwell is brought to life by Gary Oldman and Alfred Molina.
7of the best films about writers
MOSHI Monsters fans, prick up your ears! Yes, all parents looking for a cracking stocking filler for their little ones this Christmas will be queuing to snap up the first Moshi Monsters game - Moshlings Zoo - when it hits the UK gaming shelves on the Nintendo DS on November 11.
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