Sometimes, people say things that don’t mean exactly what the words sound like. These are called idioms. Idioms make talking and writing more fun. They also help us understand ideas in a special way. In this article, we will learn about idioms that talk about listening.
Listening is more than just hearing words. It means paying attention and understanding others. People have made many sayings about listening. These idioms help us show if someone is really listening or just pretending. They can also show how important it is to listen. Let’s look at some idioms that talk about listening and what they mean.
Idioms About Listening
1. Lend an ear
Meaning: To listen carefully to someone.
Example Sentence:
• Can you lend an ear while I talk about my day?
• She lent an ear to her friend who was feeling sad.
Other ways to say: Listen closely, hear out
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom means to “give” your ear for a short time.
Usage: Used when someone needs you to pay attention and listen.
2. Fall on deaf ears
Meaning: To be ignored or not listened to.
Example Sentence:
• His advice fell on deaf ears when no one paid attention.
• The teacher’s warning fell on deaf ears.
Other ways to say: Be ignored, go unheard
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of someone not hearing even if they can.
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t listen even though they should.
3. In one ear and out the other
Meaning: To hear something but forget it right away.
Example Sentence:
• Mom’s rules went in one ear and out the other.
• He didn’t study. The lesson went in one ear and out the other.
Other ways to say: Not pay attention, ignore
Fun Fact/Origin: Shows how fast someone forgets what they hear.
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t remember or follow what they hear.
4. Keep your ears open
Meaning: Listen carefully for something.
Example Sentence:
• Keep your ears open for the ice cream truck.
• He kept his ears open during the school announcement.
Other ways to say: Listen out, stay alert
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from being ready to hear something important.
Usage: Used when someone needs to pay attention to sounds or news.
5. Music to my ears
Meaning: Something very pleasant to hear.
Example Sentence:
• “No homework today” was music to my ears.
• Her laughter was music to his ears.
Other ways to say: Nice to hear, sounds great
Fun Fact/Origin: Compares happy words to lovely music.
Usage: Used when something said makes someone feel good.
6. Eavesdrop
Meaning: To secretly listen to other people’s talk.
Example Sentence:
• He tried to eavesdrop on his sister’s phone call.
• She eavesdropped on her parents’ chat.
Other ways to say: Sneak a listen, listen secretly
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from old houses where people could hear through walls.
Usage: Used when someone listens to others without asking.
7. Play it by ear
Meaning: To decide what to do as things happen.
Example Sentence:
• We don’t have a plan. Let’s play it by ear.
• If it rains, we’ll play it by ear.
Other ways to say: Make it up as you go, decide later
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from music where players improvise instead of using sheet music.
Usage: Used when someone isn’t planning ahead.
8. Ear to the ground
Meaning: To stay alert and gather information.
Example Sentence:
• She always keeps her ear to the ground at school.
• He kept his ear to the ground for new comic book releases.
Other ways to say: Stay informed, listen carefully
Fun Fact/Origin: In the past, people put their ear to the ground to hear far-off sounds.
Usage: Used when someone is trying to learn what’s going on.
9. Catch someone’s ear
Meaning: To get someone’s attention by speaking.
Example Sentence:
• The story caught my ear right away.
• Her funny joke caught everyone’s ear.
Other ways to say: Get attention, make someone listen
Fun Fact/Origin: It means something grabs your hearing in a strong way.
Usage: Used when someone says something interesting.
10. All ears
Meaning: Fully ready and excited to listen.
Example Sentence:
• Tell me what happened—I’m all ears!
• The kids were all ears during storytime.
Other ways to say: Paying attention, ready to listen
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase paints a picture of someone as just ears—only listening.
Usage: Used when someone is listening closely and with interest.
11. Give someone a hearing
Meaning: Let someone speak and listen fairly.
Example Sentence:
• The teacher gave him a hearing before deciding.
• Everyone deserves a fair hearing.
Other ways to say: Listen to, give a chance to talk
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from legal use, meaning to listen before judging.
Usage: Used when allowing someone to share their side.
12. Hear it through the grapevine
Meaning: To hear news from others, not officially.
Example Sentence:
• I heard through the grapevine there’s a pop quiz.
• She heard the secret through the grapevine.
Other ways to say: Hear a rumor, get second-hand news
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of twisting grapevines like tangled stories.
Usage: Used when information spreads in secret or informally.
13. Keep your ear to the wall
Meaning: Try to overhear private conversations.
Example Sentence:
• He kept his ear to the wall when his parents talked.
• She tried to keep her ear to the wall to hear the plan.
Other ways to say: Eavesdrop, try to listen in
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from old walls where sound travels well.
Usage: Used when someone listens secretly.
14. Not hear a peep
Meaning: Hear nothing at all.
Example Sentence:
• We didn’t hear a peep from the baby all night.
• I didn’t hear a peep about the field trip.
Other ways to say: Total silence, no sound
Fun Fact/Origin: A “peep” is a very small sound, like from a chick.
Usage: Used to show complete quiet.
15. Turn a deaf ear
Meaning: To ignore what someone says.
Example Sentence:
• He turned a deaf ear to the warnings.
• They turned a deaf ear to her advice.
Other ways to say: Pretend not to hear, ignore
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from pretending not to hear even when you can.
Usage: Used when someone chooses not to listen.
16. Word of mouth
Meaning: Information shared by talking.
Example Sentence:
• The restaurant got popular by word of mouth.
• We heard about the sale through word of mouth.
Other ways to say: Talked about, passed on by speech
Fun Fact/Origin: Means the information comes from people, not ads.
Usage: Used when news spreads by people talking.
17. Talk someone’s ear off
Meaning: To talk too much to someone.
Example Sentence:
• She talked my ear off about her weekend.
• He talks your ear off if you mention sports.
Other ways to say: Talk a lot, chatter nonstop
Fun Fact/Origin: Meant to be funny—as if the ear falls off from too much talking.
Usage: Used when someone won’t stop talking.
18. Ears are burning
Meaning: Feeling like someone is talking about you.
Example Sentence:
• My ears were burning—were you all talking about me?
• He said his ears were burning during our game talk.
Other ways to say: Feel talked about, sense gossip
Fun Fact/Origin: From the idea that ears get warm when being talked about.
Usage: Used when you think others are talking about you.
19. Fall silent
Meaning: To suddenly stop talking.
Example Sentence:
• The room fell silent when the principal walked in.
• He fell silent after hearing the sad news.
Other ways to say: Go quiet, stop talking
Fun Fact/Origin: A way to say everyone became quiet quickly.
Usage: Used when people stop talking suddenly.
20. Give an earful
Meaning: To speak sharply or complain.
Example Sentence:
• Mom gave me an earful for being late.
• The coach gave them an earful after the bad game.
Other ways to say: Scold, complain loudly
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from giving someone a lot of talk at once.
Usage: Used when someone talks angrily or seriously.
21. Hard of hearing
Meaning: Someone who can’t hear well.
Example Sentence:
• My grandpa is hard of hearing.
• She’s hard of hearing and uses hearing aids.
Other ways to say: Hearing loss, needs help hearing
Fun Fact/Origin: A polite way to describe hearing problems.
Usage: Used when talking about someone with weak hearing.
22. Listen up
Meaning: Pay attention right now.
Example Sentence:
• Listen up! This part is important.
• The coach said, “Listen up, team!”
Other ways to say: Pay attention, hear me out
Fun Fact/Origin: Short and direct way to ask for full attention.
Usage: Used to call for quick attention.
23. A little bird told me
Meaning: You know something but won’t say who told you.
Example Sentence:
• A little bird told me it’s your birthday!
• I heard you got an A— a little bird told me.
Other ways to say: Secret source, someone told me
Fun Fact/Origin: The bird is a fun way to hide the real person.
Usage: Used when you want to share news but not the source.
24. Prick up your ears
Meaning: Start listening carefully.
Example Sentence:
• She pricked up her ears when she heard her name.
• The class pricked up their ears at the word “pizza.”
Other ways to say: Listen closely, become alert
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from how animals lift ears when curious.
Usage: Used when someone starts to pay attention quickly.
25. Hear a pin drop
Meaning: Very quiet, no sound at all.
Example Sentence:
• It was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop.
• After the scary story, we could hear a pin drop.
Other ways to say: Total silence, super quiet
Fun Fact/Origin: A pin is so light, you must be very quiet to hear it fall.
Usage: Used to describe very quiet moments.
26. On deaf ears
Meaning: No one is listening or responding.
Example Sentence:
• His ideas fell on deaf ears.
• Her advice landed on deaf ears again.
Other ways to say: Ignored, not heard
Fun Fact/Origin: Similar to “fall on deaf ears,” it stresses no reaction.
Usage: Used when people don’t react to a message.
27. Heard it all before
Meaning: Not impressed because it’s been said too often.
Example Sentence:
• He said he’d change, but I’ve heard it all before.
• She rolled her eyes—she’d heard it all before.
Other ways to say: Same old story, tired of it
Fun Fact/Origin: Means the message has been repeated too many times.
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t believe what they hear.
28. Keep it down
Meaning: Be quieter.
Example Sentence:
• Please keep it down, the baby is sleeping.
• The librarian asked the kids to keep it down.
Other ways to say: Be quiet, lower the volume
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used by adults asking kids or groups to be quiet.
Usage: Used to ask for silence or softer voices.
29. Don’t believe everything you hear
Meaning: Some things people say aren’t true.
Example Sentence:
• Don’t believe everything you hear about that movie.
• He told me a rumor, but I don’t believe everything I hear.
Other ways to say: Be careful, don’t trust rumors
Fun Fact/Origin: Reminds people to check facts.
Usage: Used to warn someone to be smart about what they hear.
30. Out of earshot
Meaning: Too far away to hear.
Example Sentence:
• Wait till he’s out of earshot to talk.
• She whispered when the teacher was out of earshot.
Other ways to say: Can’t hear, not nearby
Fun Fact/Origin: “Earshot” means how far sound can reach.
Usage: Used when someone cannot hear you anymore.
31. Sharp ear
Meaning: Very good at hearing.
Example Sentence:
• She has a sharp ear for music.
• He heard that tiny beep—what a sharp ear!
Other ways to say: Good hearing, quick listener
Fun Fact/Origin: Means someone notices sounds others miss.
Usage: Used when someone is great at hearing small details.
32. Turn up your hearing
Meaning: Pay more attention.
Example Sentence:
• You need to turn up your hearing in class.
• He didn’t catch the joke—he needs to turn up his hearing.
Other ways to say: Listen better, focus
Fun Fact/Origin: It’s like turning up a radio to hear more.
Usage: Used to say someone should listen more closely.
33. Have your ear chewed off
Meaning: Someone talked to you for a long time.
Example Sentence:
• He chewed my ear off about his video game.
• She always chews my ear off after lunch.
Other ways to say: Talk nonstop, chatter
Fun Fact/Origin: Meant to be funny—talking so much it “hurts” your ear.
Usage: Used when someone talks too much.
34. Hear someone out
Meaning: Listen to all they have to say.
Example Sentence:
• Just hear me out before you decide.
• She heard him out before giving her answer.
Other ways to say: Let finish, listen fully
Fun Fact/Origin: Reminds us not to interrupt.
Usage: Used when asking someone to listen without cutting in.
35. It rings a bell
Meaning: Sounds familiar.
Example Sentence:
• That name rings a bell.
• I’ve heard that story—it rings a bell.
Other ways to say: Sounds known, seems familiar
Fun Fact/Origin: Bells are easy to remember sounds—like familiar things.
Usage: Used when something heard seems known.
36. Put a bug in someone’s ear
Meaning: Suggest something to think about.
Example Sentence:
• I put a bug in Dad’s ear about getting pizza.
• She put a bug in her teacher’s ear about a class trip.
Other ways to say: Suggest, hint
Fun Fact/Origin: Like a small thought buzzing around.
Usage: Used when giving someone an idea.
37. Have an ear for something
Meaning: Be good at hearing and understanding something.
Example Sentence:
• She has an ear for learning new languages.
• He has an ear for good music.
Other ways to say: Talent for listening, good at sounds
Fun Fact/Origin: Means a person can easily tell good from bad sounds.
Usage: Used for talents like music or language.
38. Bend someone’s ear
Meaning: Talk to someone for a long time.
Example Sentence:
• He bent my ear about his soccer game.
• She bent her friend’s ear all day.
Other ways to say: Talk a lot, go on and on
Fun Fact/Origin: Meant in a funny way—like pulling the ear with words.
Usage: Used when someone talks too long about something.
39. Have ears like a bat
Meaning: Hear very well.
Example Sentence:
• He has ears like a bat—he heard the whisper.
• Don’t try to sneak—she has ears like a bat!
Other ways to say: Super hearing, very sharp ears
Fun Fact/Origin: Bats hear better than they see!
Usage: Used when someone can hear small or far sounds.
40. Go in one ear and stay there
Meaning: Someone listens and remembers well.
Example Sentence:
• When she hears a song, it goes in one ear and stays there.
• He remembers facts easily—it goes in one ear and stays.
Other ways to say: Good memory, listens well
Fun Fact/Origin: The opposite of “in one ear and out the other.”
Usage: Used when someone remembers what they hear.
41. Keep your voice down
Meaning: Speak more quietly.
Example Sentence:
• Please keep your voice down in the library.
• He told his brother to keep his voice down at night.
Other ways to say: Talk softly, whisper
Fun Fact/Origin: Used a lot in quiet places like hospitals or libraries.
Usage: Used to remind someone to speak softly.
42. Tuned in
Meaning: Paying attention and listening well.
Example Sentence:
• She was really tuned in during the lesson.
• The kids were tuned in when the movie started.
Other ways to say: Focused, listening closely
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from radios that must be tuned to a channel.
Usage: Used to show someone is focused and alert.
43. Heard every word
Meaning: Listened to all that was said.
Example Sentence:
• I heard every word you said.
• She heard every word of the story.
Other ways to say: Listened fully, didn’t miss anything
Fun Fact/Origin: A way to say someone was paying full attention.
Usage: Used when someone listens carefully from start to end.
44. You’re not listening
Meaning: The person is not paying attention.
Example Sentence:
• I told you twice—you’re not listening!
• He got in trouble because he wasn’t listening.
Other ways to say: Ignoring, not paying attention
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used by parents and teachers!
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t pay attention to what’s said.
45. Ear candy
Meaning: Something pleasant to listen to, especially music.
Example Sentence:
• That song is pure ear candy.
• Her voice is ear candy to music fans.
Other ways to say: Nice sound, enjoyable
Fun Fact/Origin: Like candy for your ears—not real but fun.
Usage: Used to describe sweet or fun sounds.
Quiz: Idioms About Listening
Instructions: Choose the correct meaning for each idiom. Each question has one correct answer. Use what you’ve learned from the idioms to find the best choice.
Question Key
1. What does “lend an ear” mean?
A) Ask for help
B) Listen carefully
C) Tell a secret
2. If something “goes in one ear and out the other,” what happened?
A) It was remembered forever
B) It was heard and forgotten
C) It was said very loudly
3. What does “all ears” mean?
A) Ready to sleep
B) Not listening at all
C) Paying full attention
4. If someone is “talking your ear off,” what are they doing?
A) Yelling at you
B) Talking a lot
C) Singing loudly
5. What does “fall on deaf ears” mean?
A) People don’t listen
B) People whisper
C) People cheer
6. If you “play it by ear,” what are you doing?
A) Playing a game
B) Making a plan
C) Deciding as you go
7. What does it mean when your “ears are burning”?
A) You are outside in the cold
B) Someone is talking about you
C) You are covering your ears
8. If someone is “eavesdropping,” what are they doing?
A) Cleaning the floor
B) Listening in secretly
C) Singing a song
9. What does “music to my ears” mean?
A) Loud music
B) Something unpleasant
C) Something nice to hear
10. What does “prick up your ears” mean?
A) Put on earmuffs
B) Start listening closely
C) Cover your ears
11. If someone is “hard of hearing,” what does it mean?
A) They listen too much
B) They sing loudly
C) They have trouble hearing
12. What does “hear a pin drop” describe?
A) A noisy place
B) A very quiet place
C) A classroom with music
Answer Key
- B) Listen carefully
- B) It was heard and forgotten
- C) Paying full attention
- B) Talking a lot
- A) People don’t listen
- C) Deciding as you go
- B) Someone is talking about you
- B) Listening in secretly
- C) Something nice to hear
- B) Start listening closely
- C) They have trouble hearing
- B) A very quiet place
Wrapping Up
Listening idioms make speaking more fun. They help us show if someone is paying attention or not. You might hear these phrases at school, at home, or on TV. Now that you know what they mean, try using them the next time you’re talking with friends or family. They are a great way to make your words more colorful and clear.
