Listening is an important skill that helps us understand others better. When we listen well, we learn new things and show respect to the person talking. Sometimes, people use special phrases called idioms to talk about listening in fun and interesting ways. Idioms are groups of words that mean something different than the words by themselves.
In this article, you will learn about many idioms about listening. These sayings help us describe listening clearly and make speaking more lively. Knowing these idioms can help you understand stories, conversations, and even music better. Let’s explore some common idioms about listening and see how they can be used every day.
Idioms about Listening
1. Hear it on the grapevine
Meaning: To hear news from someone else, not directly.
Samples: I heard on the grapevine that our school might have a new playground. / She heard it on the grapevine that there will be a surprise test.
To Put it Another Way: I got the news from friends. / Someone told me, but not straight from the teacher.
2. In one ear and out the other
Meaning: When someone does not pay attention and quickly forgets what they hear.
Samples: Mom told me to clean my room, but it went in one ear and out the other. / The instructions went in one ear and out the other during class.
To Put it Another Way: I didn’t really listen. / I forgot what I was told quickly.
3. Bend someone’s ear
Meaning: To talk to someone for a long time, usually about a problem.
Samples: I bent my friend’s ear about my homework. / She bent her teacher’s ear asking for help.
To Put it Another Way: I talked to them a lot. / I told them all my worries.
4. Play it by ear
Meaning: To decide what to do as things happen, without a plan.
Samples: We didn’t plan the trip well, so we played it by ear. / Let’s play it by ear and see how the game goes.
To Put it Another Way: We made decisions as we went. / We didn’t have a set plan.
5. Keep an ear out
Meaning: To watch or listen carefully for something.
Samples: Keep an ear out for the school bus. / I kept an ear out for my name during roll call.
To Put it Another Way: I listened carefully. / I stayed alert to hear something.
6. Lend an ear
Meaning: To listen to someone who needs to talk.
Samples: I lent an ear when my friend was sad. / She always lends an ear to people who need help.
To Put it Another Way: I listened and cared. / I paid attention to their story.
7. Have an ear for
Meaning: To be good at hearing or understanding sounds or music.
Samples: He has an ear for music and can play many songs. / She has an ear for languages and learns fast.
To Put it Another Way: She’s good at hearing. / He understands sounds well.
8. Keep your ear to the ground
Meaning: To stay aware of what is happening around you.
Samples: Keep your ear to the ground about the school dance plans. / I keep my ear to the ground for any news about the game.
To Put it Another Way: I stay alert. / I watch and listen closely.
9. Turn a deaf ear
Meaning: To ignore what someone is saying.
Samples: He turned a deaf ear when they told him to stop. / She turned a deaf ear to the warnings about the test.
To Put it Another Way: I did not listen. / I ignored what they said.
10. Ring a bell
Meaning: To sound familiar or remind someone of something.
Samples: That name rings a bell, but I can’t remember where. / The song rings a bell from last year’s concert.
To Put it Another Way: It sounds familiar. / I think I know it.
11. Talk someone’s ear off
Meaning: To talk to someone for a very long time.
Samples: She talked my ear off about her new puppy. / He talked my ear off about the video game.
To Put it Another Way: They talked a lot. / They didn’t stop talking.
12. Keep your ears open
Meaning: To listen carefully for information.
Samples: Keep your ears open for announcements in school. / I kept my ears open for the teacher’s instructions.
To Put it Another Way: Listen closely. / Pay attention to what’s said.
13. Music to my ears
Meaning: Something that sounds very good or pleasing.
Samples: Hearing I passed the test was music to my ears. / That compliment was music to my ears.
To Put it Another Way: It made me very happy to hear that. / It sounded really nice.
14. Ear to the ground
Meaning: Listening carefully to know what is going on.
Samples: He kept his ear to the ground about the new school rules. / Keep your ear to the ground to know when the field trip is.
To Put it Another Way: Listen carefully. / Stay aware.
15. Hear something straight from the horse’s mouth
Meaning: To get information from the person who knows it best.
Samples: I heard straight from the horse’s mouth that the game is canceled. / She got the news straight from the horse’s mouth.
To Put it Another Way: I heard it from the real source. / The person who knows told me.
16. Have two ears and one mouth
Meaning: To listen more than you talk.
Samples: Remember, you have two ears and one mouth to listen more. / I try to listen more because I have two ears and one mouth.
To Put it Another Way: Listen twice as much as you speak. / Pay more attention to listening.
17. Go in one ear and out the other
Meaning: When information is heard but quickly forgotten.
Samples: The rules went in one ear and out the other during recess. / His advice went in one ear and out the other.
To Put it Another Way: I didn’t remember. / I forgot what I heard quickly.
18. Hold your tongue
Meaning: To stop yourself from saying something.
Samples: I held my tongue when my friend was upset. / Sometimes it’s best to hold your tongue and listen.
To Put it Another Way: I kept quiet. / I didn’t say anything.
19. Listen with half an ear
Meaning: To not pay full attention when listening.
Samples: I listened with half an ear because I was doing my homework. / She listened with half an ear during the long speech.
To Put it Another Way: I wasn’t fully paying attention. / I only partly listened.
20. Prick up your ears
Meaning: To listen carefully because something interesting is happening.
Samples: I pricked up my ears when I heard my name. / She pricked up her ears during the exciting story.
To Put it Another Way: I listened closely. / I paid attention quickly.
21. In one ear and out the other
Meaning: When something is heard but not remembered or taken seriously.
Samples: The teacher’s warning went in one ear and out the other. / My mom’s advice sometimes goes in one ear and out the other.
To Put it Another Way: I didn’t listen well. / I forgot what was said.
22. Have someone’s ear
Meaning: To have someone’s full attention.
Samples: The principal has the teacher’s ear about new rules. / She has her friend’s ear when she talks about the dance.
To Put it Another Way: They are listening carefully to me. / I have their attention.
23. Pay the piper
Meaning: To face the results of what you did.
Samples: After skipping homework, he had to pay the piper with a bad grade. / We must pay the piper if we don’t follow the rules.
To Put it Another Way: Face the consequences. / Deal with what happens.
24. Out of earshot
Meaning: Too far away to hear.
Samples: They whispered because the teacher was out of earshot. / I couldn’t hear the game because I was out of earshot.
To Put it Another Way: Too far to listen. / Not close enough to hear.
25. Off the record
Meaning: Something said secretly or not for everyone to hear.
Samples: The coach told me off the record that the team might win. / He said off the record that there will be a surprise party.
To Put it Another Way: Said in secret. / Not to be told to others.
26. Keep it under your hat
Meaning: To keep a secret.
Samples: Keep it under your hat that there will be a test next week. / She told me to keep it under my hat about the surprise.
To Put it Another Way: Don’t tell anyone. / Keep it secret.
27. Hear it through the grapevine
Meaning: To hear a rumor or news unofficially.
Samples: I heard through the grapevine that the school play is next month. / She heard it through the grapevine that a new student is coming.
To Put it Another Way: Got the news from someone else. / Heard a rumor.
28. Listen up
Meaning: To pay attention carefully.
Samples: Listen up! The teacher has something important to say. / Listen up, everyone, the game is starting soon.
To Put it Another Way: Pay close attention. / Listen carefully.
29. Hear from someone
Meaning: To get news or information from someone.
Samples: I haven’t heard from my friend all week. / She heard from her coach about the team tryouts.
To Put it Another Way: Got news from someone. / Someone told me.
30. Keep your ears peeled
Meaning: To watch and listen carefully for something.
Samples: Keep your ears peeled for the bus stop. / We kept our ears peeled for the bell to ring.
To Put it Another Way: Listen carefully. / Be alert to hear something.
Find the Topics: Idioms about Listening
Last week, our class was getting ready for the school play. I kept my ears open for any news about the costumes. One day, I heard on the grapevine that the lead role might change. I wasn’t sure if it was true, so I decided to keep my ear to the ground and find out more.
During recess, my friend started to bend my ear about her worries. She was nervous because she felt the information was going in one ear and out the other for some of the kids. I told her to listen up and focus when the teacher talks. Sometimes, people turn a deaf ear to advice, but we should always try to hear carefully.
At the end of the day, the teacher said the final news. It was really music to my ears to find out I was chosen to help with the lights. I felt happy because I had listened well and stayed alert.
Your Task: Underline or list all the idioms about listening in the story above.
Answer Key
- Keep your ears open
- Hear on the grapevine
- Keep your ear to the ground
- Bend someone’s ear
- Go in one ear and out the other
- Listen up
- Turn a deaf ear
- Music to my ears
Conclusion
Idioms about listening help us talk about paying attention in a clear and fun way. Using these phrases makes it easier to explain how we hear and understand things. Knowing these idioms can help you listen better and enjoy stories and conversations more. Whether you keep your ears open or listen up carefully, good listening helps you learn and connect with others.
