Are you looking for some popular ear idioms?
Well, we have you covered.
In this post, we are going to look at 47 ear idioms, what they mean and how to use them in a sentence.
47 Ear Idioms And Sayings (Meaning & Examples)
1. As Cute As A Bug’s Ear
- Meaning: used to describe something or someone who is cute. Adorable.
- Use In A Sentence: Your kitty is as cute as a bug’s eat.
2. One’s Ears Are Red
- Meaning: a person who is blushing because of embarrassment.
- Use In A Sentence: Mark’s ears were red after his teacher put him on the spot in front of the entire class.
3. A Box On The Ear
- Meaning: being hit on the ear, usually a form of punishment.
- Use In A Sentence: Mom gave Jared a box on the ear the second he walked into the door.
4. A Flea In Your Ear
- Meaning: sharp reproof.
- Use In A Sentence: Dad gave me a flea in the ear for not going out and getting a job.
5. All Eyes And Ears
- Meaning: to give one’s full attention.
- Use In A Sentence: Okay, I am all eyes and ears. Tell me, how did you meet Jason?
6. Assault The Ear
- Meaning: to be painfully loud to listen to.
- Use In A Sentence: Wow the music at that party was so loud. I couldn’t even think with that music assaulting my ear.
7. To Be Easy On The Ear
- Meaning: something that is enjoyable to listen to.
- Use In A Sentence: I found jazz music to be very easy on the ear.
8. To Be Out On Your Ear
- Meaning: to be forced to leave a situation. Usually a job, one’s home, etc.
- Use In A Sentence: After 15 years of working for the same company, I am out on my ear because the new manager thinks I am too old.
9. To Believe One’s Ears
- Meaning: to believe what a person has heard.
- Use In A Sentence: I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard that she got promoted at work.
10. To Bend One’s Ear
- Meaning: to talk to a person so much that they get bored or annoyed with all the talking.
- Use In A Sentence: Paul was bending my ear over his retirement plan for the past two hours.
11. Cloth Ears
- Meaning: a funny way to refer to someone who wasn’t paying attention or listening to something important.
- Use In A Sentence: Let’s go cloth ears. Didn’t you hear Mr. Peterson call our name?
12. Can’t Make A Silk Purse Out Of A Sow’s Ear
- Meaning: you can’t turn something ugly into something beautiful or you can’t turn something that has no value into something that has a lot of value.
- Use In A Sentence: If you want something nice, you need to buy high-quality materials. Remember, you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.
13. To Have Nothing (or very little) Between The Ears
- Meaning: a funny way to refer to a person who doesn’t have much common sense or is not too clever.
- Use In A Sentence: What can you tell me about Tom? Well, he is great when it comes to constructing things, but he has nothing between his ears.
14. To Cock An Ear At Something
- Meaning: to listen intently.
- Use In A Sentence: When I heard them talking about my friends, I cocked an ear hoping to learn more.
15. To Come To One’s Ears or To Reach One’s Ears
- Meaning: to eventually hear about something that others have already heard about.
- Use In A Sentence: So, it came to my ears that you are thinking about quitting your job, is that true?
16. Coming Out Of One’s Ears
- Meaning: to have a lot of something.
- Use In A Sentence: Steve is so rich he has money coming out of his ears.
17. Dry Behind The Ears
- Meaning: a person who has a lot of experience in a given situation.
- Use In A Sentence: I don’t think that is a good idea for these young boys, they aren’t dry behind the ears yet.
18. Ear Hustler
- Meaning: a person who gossips.
- Use In A Sentence: Be careful what you tell Julie, she is an ear hustler. If you tell her some news everyone will know before the day ends.
19. To Have One’s Ear To The Ground
- Meaning: to be listening to what is going to happen. It can also mean to be well informed.
- Use In A Sentence: To be successful in this business, you need to always have your ear to the ground.
20. One’s Ears Are Burning
- Meaning: people are talking about a person, usually behind their back without them knowing it.
- Use In A Sentence: Were your ears burning last night? We were talking about how you are such a good example for us.
21. To Fall On Deaf Ears
- Meaning: to be ignored by the ones who should be listening.
- Use In A Sentence: Any advice we gave them about moving abroad seem to fall on deaf ears.
22. To Get One’s Ears Pinned Back
- Meaning: to receive a harsh scolding.
- Use In A Sentence: Mark got his ears pinned back the moment he walked into the room.
23. To Give An Ear To Someone
- Meaning: to listen to someone.
- Use In A Sentence: Thank you for giving me an ear. I feel much better talking about this with you.
24. To Give Someone A Thick Ear
- Meaning: (British English) to punish someone by hitting them on the side of the head.
- Use In A Sentence: If you don’t listen, I will tell your father and he will give you a thick ear.
25. Go Blow It Out Your Ear!
- Meaning: another way to say, leave me alone.
- Use In A Sentence: What did you do to your room? Go blow it out your ear! I don’t want to talk about it.
26. To Have Someone Or Something By The Ears
- Meaning: to be in control of that person or thing.
- Use In A Sentence: It is okay. I spoke to James about it. I think I have the situation by the ears now.
27. To Have A Word In One’s Ear
- Meaning: to speak to a person privately about something. Usually to offer a suggestion or give a warning.
- Use In A Sentence: Hey Alex, can I have a word in your ear for a moment?
28. To Have An Ear For Something
- Meaning: to be good at learning something quickly by listening. It usually is used with music or a foreign language.
- Use In A Sentence: Hannah has an ear for learning foreign languages. She picks them up so quickly.
29. To Have Steam Coming Out Of One’s Ears
- Meaning: to be visibly upset about something.
- Use In A Sentence: John was not happy. He ran out of the house with steaming coming out of his ears. I think he just needs a little time to cool down.
30. To Have The Right Sow By The Ear
- Meaning: to correctly understand a situation.
- Use In A Sentence: Don’t talk to him until you have the right sow by the ear.
31. To Be In Earshot
- Meaning: to close enough to hear what somebody says.
- Use In A Sentence: Last night I was in earshot of their conversation and heard them talking about you.
32. To Lend An Ear To Someone
- Meaning: to listen to someone.
- Use In A Sentence: Thank you for lending an ear to Jessie last night. I could tell she was happy to speak with you about this problem.
33. Like Trying To Scratch One’s Ear With One’s Elbow
- Meaning: something that is very difficult if not impossible to do.
- Use In A Sentence: Getting these 3 boys to calm down and listen is like trying to scratch my ear with my elbow.
34. To Listen With Half An Ear
- Meaning: to partially pay attention to what is being said.
- Use In A Sentence: What did the teacher say? I missed it. I was only listening with half an ear.
35. To Play It By Ear
- Meaning: to improvise rather than make definite plans.
- Use In A Sentence: I don’t know if I will have to work tomorrow or not. So, let’s play it by ear. If I don’t have to work, I will talk to you.
36. To Ring In One’s Ears
- Meaning: to remember something so clearly it is as if you can still hear it.
- Use In A Sentence: His final words still ring in my ears down to this day.
37. To Put A Bug In One’s Ears
- Meaning: to give a person some information or an idea in a subtle and discreet way.
- Use In A Sentence: Mary has been putting a bug in his ear about what she wanted for her anniversary, but apparently, he didn’t get it.
38. To Talk One’s Ear Off
- Meaning: to talk so much it causes the other person to be bored
- Use In A Sentence: I hope Sam isn’t at the party tonight. He always talks my ear off.
39. To Be Up To One’s Ear In Debt
- Meaning: to owe a lot of money.
- Use In A Sentence: After college and then buying a new car, I am up to my ears in debt right now.
40. Virgin Ears
- Meaning: used to refer to a person who is young or innocent and has not been exposed to profanity.
- Use In A Sentence: Watch what you say! Remember there are virgin ears in the room.
41. To Whisper Sweet Nothings In One’s Ears
- Meaning: to whisper words of affection to your loved one.
- Use In A Sentence: I loved how he used to whisper sweet nothings in my ear we when were dating.
42. To Turn A Deaf Ear To Someone Or Something
- Meaning: to willing ignore someone.
- Use In A Sentence: Adam turned a deaf ear to the cries for help.
43. To Be Wet Behind The Ears
- Meaning: to be inexperienced.
- Use In A Sentence: I don’t know what to think about Mary being the new manager. In my opinion, she is still wet behind the ears.
44. To Prick Up One’s Ear
- Meaning: to suddenly pay close attention to what is happening or what is being said.
- Use In A Sentence: When Marty heard his name in the hallway, he pricked up his ears.
45. To Have Big Ears
- Meaning: to eavesdrop.
- Use In A Sentence: Be careful what you say in the office. Some people have big ears.
46. To Smile From Ear To Ear
- Meaning: to have a big smile.
- Use In A Sentence: She was smiling from ear to ear as she accepted the award for the best teacher.
47. To Get One’s Ears Lowered
- Meaning: to get a haircut.
- Use In A Sentence: I have to go downtown to get my ears lowered.
There You Have It! 47 Useful Ear Idioms! Which one is your favorite?
