to tickle the ears
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To gratify the ear either by pleasing sounds or flattering words.
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 tickle the ears” mean?
To gratify the ear either by pleasing sounds or flattering words.
Is “to tickle the ears” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.