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I’m all ears

You have my full attention

TRANSLATION

I’m all ears = ich bin ganz Ohr, ich höre (ganz aufmerksam) zu

STATISTICS

IN THE PRESS

“As the economists, law scholars, and political scientists debate, one thing is certain: the Stigler Center’s journalists have been ALL EARS."

University of Chicago News - ‘Does capitalism need protection from big business?’

Did you
know?

all ears
idiom

- to listen with keen attention

Cambridge Dictionary


TWO EARS, ONE MOUTH

The Greek philosopher Epictetus wisely said: 'We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.'

Whatever one believes about having two aural instruments, being all ears is a good way to tell someone that they have your full attention.


14 EAR IDIOMS

- box someone’s ears = deliver a slap to the side of the head (He’s starting to annoy me. I would like to box his ears.)

- play by ear = without preparation (I don’t know what to do at the weekend, let’s play it by ear.)

- within earshot = within hearing distance (Jim is within earshot, let me just call him.)

- ear-splitting = deafening, incredibly loud (The loudspeaker made a sudden, ear-splitting noise.)

- ears burning = a feeling that one is being talked about by others (My ears were burning, have you been talking about me?)

- have an ear to the ground =  be aware of what is happening and what is likely to happen (Speak to Sally about that, she has her ears to the ground about such things.)

- have the ear of =  be in position to advise and influence someone (Jim is very influential, he has the ear of our CEO.)

- in one ear and out the other =  without being appreciated, remembered or listened to (Janet doesn’t listen to a word we say; it’s in one ear and out the other.)

- prick up one’s ears = listen with sudden attention to something unexpected (He pricked up his ears the moment I mentioned commission rates.)

- turn a deaf ear = refuse to listen (Lizzie has been turning a deaf ear to his promotion requests for over a year.)

- up to one’s ears =  extremely busy, overwhelmed with work (Sorry I can’t help you at the moment, I’m up to my ears.)

- wet behind the ears = inexperienced (Becky will need basic training, she’s still wet behind the ears.)

- a word in your ear = talk in confidence, in private (Can I have a quick word in your ear? It’s important.)

- music to one’s ears = information that makes someone feel very happy (His compliments were music to her ear.)


SYNONYMS

attentive, hanging on every word, heedful, interested, listening carefully, mindful, alert, concentrating, focused, vigilant, rapt, on the lookout, paying attention, on one’s toes, on the ball, wide-awake, not missing a trick


PRACTICE OWAD in an English conversation, say something like:

“If you’re ready to talk, I’M ALL EARS.”


HERZLICHEN DANK to all readers helping me keep OWAD alive with single or monthly donations at:

https://donorbox.org/please-become-a-friend-of-owad-3

Paul Smith

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