prick

be like a spare prick at a wedding (British, taboo, humorous)

to feel silly because you are present at an event but no one needs you and no one is talking to you. Everyone else there had come with their partners and I was left feeling like a spare prick at a wedding.

See also: like, spare, wedding

kick against the pricks (British & Australian, literary)

to fight against people in authority. People in this country tend to follow rather than lead. It takes courage to kick against the pricks.

See also: against, kick

prick someone's conscience

to make someone feel guilty. Seeing pictures of starving children pricks my conscience, but I rarely give money to charity.

See also: conscience

prick your ears up (informal)

to start to listen carefully to what someone is saying, often because you think you may find out something interesting. Eve pricked her ears up when she heard her name being mentioned.

See also: ear

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prick your ears up

to listen carefully. If you hear my name mentioned, prick up your ears – I want to know what you find out.

See also: ear