to prick up one's ears
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To listen attentively to something not expected, as horses prick up their ears at a sudden sound.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “to prick up one's ears” mean?
To listen attentively to something not expected, as horses prick up their ears at a sudden sound.
Is “to prick up one's ears” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.