PRICKS EARS Meaning and
Definition
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"Pricks ears" is an idiomatic expression that refers to the alert and attentive behavior displayed by animals, particularly those with pointed ears such as dogs, horses, or rabbits. It is often used metaphorically to describe someone who suddenly becomes attentive, alert, or interested in listening intently to something.
When an animal "pricks its ears," it means that it raises its ears in an upright position, typically in response to a sound or stimulus that has caught its attention. This action allows the animal to better focus on the source of the sound by collecting more sound waves and amplifying their reception. In the animal kingdom, pricking ears is commonly associated with heightened awareness, curiosity, or a potential threat perception.
In a figurative sense, "pricks ears" can also describe a response exhibited by people when they suddenly become alert, attentive, or interested in something. It denotes a moment of heightened attention or intrigue, where the individual seeks to listen carefully or pay close attention to a particular matter. The phrase is often used when someone becomes suddenly intrigued, captivated, or intent on listening to a conversation, story, news, or any other engaging or significant information.
Overall, "pricks ears" signifies a moment of heightened awareness, curiosity, or interest, both in the animal kingdom and figuratively in human behavior. The expression effectively captures the image of an animal or person sharply focusing their attention and exhibiting intense curiosity or alertness.
Common Misspellings for PRICKS EARS
- oricks ears
- lricks ears
- -ricks ears
- 0ricks ears
- peicks ears
- pdicks ears
- pficks ears
- pticks ears
- p5icks ears
- p4icks ears
- prucks ears
- prjcks ears
- prkcks ears
- procks ears
- pr9cks ears
- pr8cks ears
- prixks ears
- privks ears
- prifks ears
- pridks ears
Etymology of PRICKS EARS
The phrase "prick ears" is an idiomatic expression referring to the act of a dog or an animal raising and turning its ears towards a sound or something it finds interesting. The etymology of the phrase is relatively straightforward.
The word "prick" in Old English was "prician", which meant "to prick" or "to pierce". It later evolved into Middle English as "priken" and had broader meanings such as "to puncture" or "to stimulate". The word "ears" refers to the ears of any animal.
When these two words are combined, "prick ears" signifies an animal's action of raising or perking up its ears, as if it were pricking or puncturing the air with their sharp ears to direct attention towards a specific sound or stimulus.
