all ears, to be

be all ears

To be ready and eager to hear what one has to say. Tell me about your first day at the new job—I'm all ears!

See also: all, ear

be all ears

If you are all ears, you are ready and eager to listen to what someone is saying. Okay, tell me what the problem is. I'm all ears. She had expected him to be all ears when she told him about her wedding plans.

See also: all, ear

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

be all ears

be listening eagerly and attentively. informal

See also: all, ear

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

be all ˈears

(informal) listen very carefully and with great interest: Go on, tell me what happened — I’m all ears. OPPOSITE: listen with half an ear

See also: all, ear

all ears, to be

To pay close attention to what is said. The term may have originated in John Milton’s Comus (1634): “I am all ear and took in strains that might create a soul under the ribs of death.” It has been used again and again, by Anthony Trollope and others, to the present day.