30 Idioms About Ears

The ears are often associated with listening, hearing, and paying attention, but in language, they can also symbolize more complex ideas, from secrets to attentiveness. Idioms involving ears reflect the many ways we perceive, process, or ignore information. Whether you’re talking about overhearing gossip, lending an ear, or just keeping things to yourself, these idiomatic expressions about ears help convey the nuances of listening, attention, and communication.

In this article, you’ll discover 30 idioms about ears, each highlighting a different aspect of hearing, listening, or relating to information. These idioms will help you describe situations where ears are involved, from hearing the truth to being the recipient of unsolicited advice.

1. Lend an Ear

Meaning: To listen attentively to someone, especially when they need to speak or share their thoughts.
In a Sentence:

• She’s always there to lend an ear when I need to talk about my problems.
• He’s good at lending an ear and offering advice when it’s needed.
  Other Ways to Say: Listen attentively, offer support, be a good listener

2. In One Ear and Out the Other

Meaning: When someone hears something but does not pay attention or forgets it immediately.
In a Sentence:

• I told him about the meeting, but it went in one ear and out the other.
• When she speaks, it’s usually in one ear and out the other, and she never remembers anything.
  Other Ways to Say: Not listening, not paying attention, disregarding

3. Eavesdrop

Meaning: To secretly listen to someone else’s conversation without their knowledge.
In a Sentence:

• I accidentally eavesdropped on their conversation about the surprise party.
• He was caught eavesdropping on his colleagues’ discussion about the new project.
  Other Ways to Say: Listen in, overhear, spy on

4. Ear to the Ground

Meaning: To stay informed about what is happening, especially in a particular community or situation.
In a Sentence:

• She’s always got her ear to the ground and knows exactly what’s going on in the company.
• He’s had his ear to the ground regarding the latest political developments.
  Other Ways to Say: Stay informed, keep up with, be aware

5. A Listening Ear

Meaning: Someone who is willing to listen to another person’s problems or concerns.
In a Sentence:

• She’s always been a listening ear when I need someone to talk to.
• He offered me a listening ear when I needed support after my difficult breakup.
  Other Ways to Say: Supportive, understanding, empathetic listener

6. Catch Someone’s Ear

Meaning: To attract someone’s attention, often with something interesting or noteworthy.
In a Sentence:

• His new proposal really caught the boss’s ear during the meeting.
• She said something that caught my ear, and I had to ask her to explain more.
  Other Ways to Say: Attract attention, spark interest, draw attention

7. Music to One’s Ears

Meaning: Something that is very pleasing or satisfying to hear, often because it is good news.
In a Sentence:

• When I heard that my application was accepted, it was like music to my ears.
• The praise from my colleagues was music to my ears after the hard work I put in.
  Other Ways to Say: Pleasant to hear, delightful, reassuring

8. Have an Ear for

Meaning: To have the ability to hear or understand something well, especially in music or language.
In a Sentence:

• She has an ear for music and can identify every note in a song.
• He has an ear for languages and picks up new words very quickly.
  Other Ways to Say: Good at listening, perceptive, talented in hearing

9. Give Someone an Earful

Meaning: To speak to someone angrily or criticize them severely.
In a Sentence:

• After the meeting, he gave me an earful about the mistakes I made in the report.
• I had to give him an earful when he was late to the presentation again.
  Other Ways to Say: Scold, lecture, rebuke

10. Fall on Deaf Ears

Meaning: When something is not heard or is ignored, even though it may be important.
In a Sentence:

• My suggestions fell on deaf ears, and no one paid attention to my ideas.
• His complaints about the workload fell on deaf ears, as the management didn’t respond.
  Other Ways to Say: Ignored, unheard, dismissed

11. An Old Earmark

Meaning: A characteristic or feature that is easily recognized and associated with someone or something.
In a Sentence:

• His signature laugh is an old earmark of his personality.
• The bright colors on the packaging have become an old earmark of the brand.
  Other Ways to Say: Trademark, characteristic, distinctive feature

12. Turn a Deaf Ear

Meaning: To deliberately ignore something or refuse to listen to someone.
In a Sentence:

• She turned a deaf ear to his complaints, choosing to focus on her own work.
• The company turned a deaf ear to the community’s concerns about the new project.
  Other Ways to Say: Ignore, disregard, refuse to listen

13. Ears are Burning

Meaning: To feel that people are talking about you, often behind your back.
In a Sentence:

• I was sitting there, and my ears were burning—I could tell they were talking about me.
• He walked into the room with his ears burning, knowing they’d been gossiping about him.
  Other Ways to Say: Feeling talked about, overhearing gossip, hearing about oneself

14. In One Ear and Out the Other

Meaning: When someone hears something but quickly forgets it or doesn’t pay attention to it.
In a Sentence:

• I told him to clean his room, but it went in one ear and out the other.
• Every time she tries to give me advice, it goes in one ear and out the other.
  Other Ways to Say: Not paying attention, forgetting, ignoring

15. Lend an Ear

Meaning: To listen carefully and attentively, often when someone needs support or to talk about their problems.
In a Sentence:

• If you need to talk, I’m here to lend an ear.
• She always lends an ear when her friends are going through tough times.
  Other Ways to Say: Listen, be attentive, offer support

16. On the Tip of One’s Tongue

Meaning: When you know something but cannot quite recall it at the moment.
In a Sentence:

• The answer was on the tip of my tongue, but I just couldn’t remember it.
• His name is on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t quite place it.
  Other Ways to Say: Almost remembered, at the edge of your memory, just out of reach

17. Turn a Blind Eye

Meaning: To deliberately ignore something, often because it is inconvenient or uncomfortable to address.
In a Sentence:

• The manager turned a blind eye to the employees’ complaints about the new policy.
• He turned a blind eye to the issue, hoping it would resolve itself.
  Other Ways to Say: Ignore, overlook, pretend not to notice

18. In the Blink of an Eye

Meaning: Something happening so quickly that it is almost unnoticeable.
In a Sentence:

• The car was gone in the blink of an eye, and we didn’t even see where it went.
• The entire meeting was over in the blink of an eye, and no one had time to speak.
  Other Ways to Say: Instantly, in a flash, before you know it

19. Ear to the Ground

Meaning: To be aware of what is happening in a particular situation, often through careful listening or observation.
In a Sentence:

• He’s got his ear to the ground and knows exactly what’s going on in the company.
• She always keeps her ear to the ground, staying updated with the latest news.
  Other Ways to Say: Stay informed, be observant, be aware

20. With an Ear to the Ground

Meaning: Actively listening and paying attention to new developments or trends.
In a Sentence:

• He’s with an ear to the ground, constantly keeping up with what’s happening in the tech world.
• If you want to stay ahead in the business, you need to be with an ear to the ground.
  Other Ways to Say: Keeping informed, paying attention, staying alert

21. A Listening Ear

Meaning: A person who is willing to listen to another’s problems, often with sympathy or understanding.
In a Sentence:

• She’s always there with a listening ear when I need to talk about my concerns.
• He provided a listening ear for his friend, who was going through a tough time.
  Other Ways to Say: Supportive, understanding, empathetic listener

22. A Good Head on One’s Shoulders

Meaning: A person who is sensible and makes thoughtful, practical decisions.
In a Sentence:

• She’s got a good head on her shoulders and knows how to handle difficult situations.
• He’s always been the one with a good head on his shoulders, making wise decisions.
  Other Ways to Say: Practical, wise, level-headed

23. Not a Peep

Meaning: To remain silent or not say anything.
In a Sentence:

• He didn’t say a word during the meeting—he didn’t make a peep.
• I haven’t heard a peep from her since the conversation started.
  Other Ways to Say: Silent, quiet, not a sound

24. Give Someone an Earful

Meaning: To scold or reprimand someone, often by giving them a lot of information or criticism at once.
In a Sentence:

• After the mistake, the boss gave him an earful about being more careful next time.
• I had to give her an earful when I found out she was late again.
  Other Ways to Say: Reprimand, scold, lecture

25. Behind Someone’s Back

Meaning: To do something secretly or without someone’s knowledge, often involving dishonesty or betrayal.
In a Sentence:

• They were talking behind my back about my performance in the project.
• She made the decision behind his back, not consulting him first.
  Other Ways to Say: Secretly, in secret, without permission

26. In One Ear and Out the Other

Meaning: To hear something but immediately forget or not pay attention to it.
In a Sentence:

• I keep reminding him to be on time, but it goes in one ear and out the other.
• Every time she talks about her plans, it’s in one ear and out the other.
  Other Ways to Say: Disregard, ignore, not absorb

27. A Sound Mind in a Sound Body

Meaning: The idea that physical health and mental well-being are interconnected and equally important.
In a Sentence:

• He believes in the philosophy of a sound mind in a sound body and exercises regularly.
• To stay healthy, you need both a sound mind and a sound body, he often says.
  Other Ways to Say: Healthy mind, balanced life, well-being

28. Have a Head for Something

Meaning: To have a natural talent or skill for a particular activity or subject.
In a Sentence:

• She has a head for business and knows how to grow a company.
• He has a head for numbers and is great with financial planning.
  Other Ways to Say: Talented, skilled, proficient

29. Keep One’s Ears Open

Meaning: To stay alert and attentive, especially to information or rumors.
In a Sentence:

• Keep your ears open for any news on the project deadline.
• He always keeps his ears open, trying to pick up on any valuable information.
  Other Ways to Say: Be alert, stay aware, listen attentively

30. In One Ear and Out the Other

Meaning: To hear something, but fail to retain or act on it, usually due to lack of interest or attention.
In a Sentence:

• I told him about the change in schedule, but it went in one ear and out the other.
• My instructions to him always seem to go in one ear and out the other.
  Other Ways to Say: Ignore, disregard, forget

31. Ears Are Burning

Meaning: To feel as though people are talking about you, especially in a gossiping or negative way.
In a Sentence:

• As soon as I walked into the room, I could tell my ears were burning—everyone stopped talking.
• I could feel my ears burning when I overheard them mentioning my name.
  Other Ways to Say: Feel talked about, overhear, sense gossip

Fill in the blanks:

1. After listening to all the complaints, he decided to ___________ and apologize for his actions.
2. I told him the secret, but it went ___________—he didn’t remember it later.
3. I wasn’t supposed to hear that, but I happened to ___________ on their conversation.
4. She always keeps her ___________ to the ground to stay updated on what’s happening in the industry.
5. He’s the one you go to if you need ___________ during tough times.
6. That song was ___________ when I first heard it; I loved it instantly.
7. She really does ___________ for languages and picks up new words easily.
8. I had to ___________ when he started complaining about his work situation.
9. Despite all my efforts, my suggestions seemed to ___________ and weren’t considered.
10. The report was ___________, but it was still hard to digest the information.
11. She’s always the first to ___________ and say what’s on her mind, no matter the consequences.
12. He has an amazing ability to ___________—his speeches always resonate with people.
13. He ___________ when I caught him sneaking around the office late at night.
14. He’s known as ___________ in the office because he’s honest, no matter how uncomfortable it gets.
15. When she walked in the room, her name was ___________ but she couldn’t recall it.
16. We need to ___________ and talk about the issues that have been causing tension.
17. He’s ___________ in the new company, and his work has been impressive so far.
18. He’s a ___________, just waiting to be discovered and take on the world.
19. With his big heart and kindness, he’s truly ___________ despite his tough exterior.
20. She’s so ___________, always trying to make everyone happy, even if it means going out of her way.
21. You can always trust him to ___________ and tell you the truth no matter how difficult it is.
22. Don’t be such ___________; just enjoy yourself instead of always seeking attention.
23. He’s ___________; he likes to stay on his own and doesn’t mix much with the group.
24. She’s a ___________; she can handle a wide range of tasks, but she never specializes in one thing.
25. He’s always so ___________; he never shows much emotion and doesn’t speak much.
26. I’ve noticed she has a ___________; she always gives in and helps even when it’s not her responsibility.
27. He’s such ___________; he constantly brags about how great he is at everything.
28. He’s a ___________, preferring to work independently instead of in a team.
29. He gave me ___________ after I didn’t meet the deadline and failed to finish my work.
30. She’s a ___________, no matter what the situation, she stays calm and handles everything with ease.

Answer Key

1. e) A Listening Ear
2. b) In One Ear and Out the Other
3. c) Eavesdrop
4. d) Ear to the Ground
5. e) A Listening Ear
6. g) Music to One’s Ears
7. h) Have an Ear for
8. i) Give Someone an Earful
9. j) Fall on Deaf Ears
10. n) A Bitter Pill to Swallow
11. m) Speak the Truth to Power
12. p) Straight Shooter
13. u) A Sheepish Grin
14. v) A Cold Fish
15. w) A People Pleaser
16. o) Clear the Air
17. s) A Rising Star
18. t) A Diamond in the Rough
19. ff) A Gentle Giant
20. w) A People Pleaser
21. p) Straight Shooter
22. ee) A Bit of a Show-Off
23. y) A Lone Wolf
24. z) A Jack of All Trades
25. dd) A Man/Woman of Few Words
26. bb) A Soft Touch
27. aa) A Big Head
28. y) A Lone Wolf
29. i) Give Someone an Earful
30. h) Cool as a Cucumber

Conclusion

Ears play a significant role in how we interact with the world, and these 30 idioms for ears reflect the various ways we process, communicate, and perceive information. From being a “listening ear” to “eavesdropping,” and even having “an ear to the ground,” these idiomatic expressions help us describe everything from attentive listening to ignoring important details.

Understanding these idioms enriches our ability to express the complexities of human interaction and communication. Whether you’re describing someone who listens well, someone who ignores the truth, or someone who speaks plainly, these idioms will help you capture the essence of personalities and relationships with ease.

Next time you find yourself discussing a situation involving hearing or listening, consider using one of these idioms to add color and depth to your description.