prick (redirected from pricked up ears)

prick up its ears and prick up one's ears

Fig. [for an animal or a person] to become attentive. (The animal will adjust its ears toward the sound.) The sound made the dog prick its ears up. When Fred heard his name, he pricked up his ears. She pricked her ears up when she heard her name.

See also: ear, up

---

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 somebody'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

Usage notes: Many animals prick up (= raise) their ears when they hear something.

Eve pricked her ears up when she heard her name being mentioned.

See also: ear, up

---

prick your ears up also prick up your ears

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

See also: ear, up