hearken to

hearken back to (something)

1. To recall or remind one of something in the past. ("Hearken" is actually an archaic word meaning "to listen," but it is more commonly used in place "hark" for this idiomatic phrase in contemporary English.) That song hearkens back to an earlier time in my life. The diner is clearly trying to hearken back to the aesthetics of the early 1950s. What is this? I'm looking for a modern logo, not one that totally hearkens back to the '70s.

2. To have originated or begun as something. You know, our modern cell phones hearken back to those old rotary phones you like to make fun of. Don't scoff at our pixelated Oregon Trail—what do think your modern computer games hearken back to? Fashion is cyclical. The clothes teens were wearing in the '90s hearkened back to clothes teens were wearing in the '70s.

3. To revisit or think again about something mentioned earlier. Before we get too upset, let's all hearken back to the real reason we're here today. Can we please not hearken back to last Thanksgiving and the fight between Mom and Aunt Mary? Wait, doesn't that later scene in the bakery hearken back to their meet-cute in the bakery?

See also: back, hearken, to

hearken to (someone or something)

To listen closely or attentively to something. Edgar, hearken to that sound—I think someone's coming! Hey, hearken to those shouts! Is someone down on the beach calling for help? I have to hearken to the sound of crying because I have a very vocal cat, and my next door neighbors have small children, and it's hard to differentiate between the two!

See also: hearken, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

hearken to someone or something

Formal or stilted to listen to someone or something; to pay attention to someone or something. Please hearken to me. I speak the truth. Hearken to the call of the nightingale.

See also: hearken, to

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.