PRICKING EARS Meaning and
Definition
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The phrase "pricking ears" is an idiomatic expression that refers to the action or movement of an animal's ears, particularly in response to a sudden sound or intriguing stimuli.
The term "pricking" in this context means to raise or erect, while "ears" pertains to the organs of hearing and balance found on the heads of various animals. When an animal is said to be "pricking its ears," it implies that the creature has perked up its ears in an attentive manner, often tilting or twitching them in order to better capture and interpret auditory signals.
This phrase is most commonly used to describe the heightened sense of alertness or curiosity that befalls animals such as dogs, horses, or cats when they hear a noise that captures their attention. For instance, a dog may prick its ears upon hearing the sound of its owner's car approaching the driveway, or a horse may prick its ears upon detecting a rustle in the bushes nearby.
"Pricking ears" serves as a metaphorical representation of an animal's heightened readiness to listen and its innate instinct to focus its hearing on a specific sound source. The phrase suggests a keen perceptiveness and genuine engagement with the external environment, as the animal uses its acute hearing abilities to process and interpret the aural cues it receives.
Common Misspellings for PRICKING EARS
- oricking ears
- lricking ears
- -ricking ears
- 0ricking ears
- peicking ears
- pdicking ears
- pficking ears
- pticking ears
- p5icking ears
- p4icking ears
- prucking ears
- prjcking ears
- prkcking ears
- procking ears
- pr9cking ears
- pr8cking ears
- prixking ears
- privking ears
- prifking ears
- pridking ears
Etymology of PRICKING EARS
The phrase "pricking ears" is derived from the verb form of the word "prick" and the noun "ears". Here is a breakdown of their etymologies:
- Prick: The word "prick" initially entered the English language around the 13th century and has Germanic origins. It is related to the Middle Low German word "pricken" and the Dutch word "prikkelen", which means "to prick" or "to sting". Ultimately, it can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "prikojanan" meaning "to point, prick, or stick".
- Ears: The word "ears" has Old English roots and is related to similar words in other Germanic languages. The Old English word was "ēare", which developed from the Proto-Germanic word "auzō" or "ōraz".
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