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Prick up your ears for these 10 idioms using the word "ear"!
- play it by ear—do something without a plan; improvise.
- lend an ear—to pay attention; listen.
- in one ear and out the other—heard without making an impression. ("My son never listens to me. Everything I say goes in one ear and out the other!")
- be all ears—to listen closely.
- out of earshot—too far away to hear. (Often used when you're saying something that you don't want someone else to hear, so you wait until they're out of earshot.)
- up to your ears in—overwhelmed by (e.g., work, debt, trouble).
- coming out your ears—have a huge amount of something. ("I've put together so many projects this week, I've got Powerpoint slides coming out my ears!")
- a word in the ear—confidential advice.
- have your ear to the ground—be well-informed and tuned into further developments.
- can't believe your ears—to be shocked at something you hear.
BONUS
- Are your ears burning? —Said to someone when you've been talking about them without them knowing.
Idioms are an important part of English communication. For more, take a look at the Business Idioms course. Not only will you learn plenty of idioms, you'll clearly understand the contexts you can use them.
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to prick up your ears—to listen closely; become suddenly interested.
