ear

be all ears be listening eagerly and attentively. informal

be in someone's ear talk insistently to someone in an annoying way. informal

2011Seeking Alpha When I would be doing CNBC spots and got on the subject of Europe, the producers would be in my ear, asking me specifically not to use that phrase because it had become so tired.

bend someone's ear: seebend.

bring something (down) about your ears bring something, especially misfortune, on yourself.

cloth ears: seecloth.

cock your ear: seecock.

fall on deaf ears: seedeaf.

a flea in your ear: seeflea.

give someone (or get) a thick ear: seethick.

have (or gain) someone's earhave (or gain) access to and influence with someone.

2006Economist A group of free-market economists gained his ear, preaching privatisation.

have something by the ears keep or obtain a secure hold on.

1949Dylan ThomasLetter I am tangled in hack-work. Depression has me by the ears.

have something coming out of your ears have a substantial or excessive amount of something. informal

1997Daily Express In terms of advice…Jill's had suggestions coming out of her ears.

have (or keep) an ear to the ground be well informed about events and trends.

☞ The idea behind this phrase is that by putting your ear against the ground you would be able to hear approaching footsteps.

have a tin ear: seetin.

have a word in someone's ear: seeword.

in one ear and out the other heard but disregarded or quickly forgotten.

lend an ear: seelend.

listen with half an ear not give your full attention to someone or something.

make a pig's ear of: seepig.

make a silk purse out of a sow's ear: seesilk.

music to your ears: seemusic.

out on your ear dismissed or ejected ignominiously. informal

2005Chris CleaveIncendiary Whenever I could squeeze a fiver out of the shopping money I used to stash it under the carpet just in case my husband blew everything one day and they chucked us out on our ear.

pin your ears back: seepin.

play something by ear

1 perform music without having to read from a score.

2 proceed instinctively according to results and circumstances rather than according to rules or a plan. informal

❷1992Paul AusterLeviathan The only condition was that Sachs arrive at Maria's house promptly at ten o'clock, and from then on they would play it by ear.

prick up your ears: seeprick.

set by the ears cause to quarrel.

someone's ears are burning someone is subconsciously aware of being talked about, especially in their absence.

☞ The superstition that your ears tingle when you are being talked about is recorded from the mid 16th century. Originally it was the left ear only that was supposed to do so.

someone's ears are flapping someone is listening intently in order to overhear something not intended for them. informal

stop your ears: seestop.

turn a deaf ear: seedeaf.

up to your ears in very busy with or deeply involved in. informal

walls have ears: seewall.

wet behind the ears: seewet.