prick+up+the+ears

  • 21prick — /prɪk / (say prik) noun 1. a puncture made by a needle, thorn, or the like. 2. the act of pricking: the prick of a needle. 3. the state or sensation of being pricked. 4. Colloquial (taboo) a. the penis. b. an unpleasant or despicable person. 5.… …

  • 22prick — I UK [prɪk] / US verb Word forms prick : present tense I/you/we/they prick he/she/it pricks present participle pricking past tense pricked past participle pricked 1) [transitive] to make a very small hole in the surface of something with a sharp… …

    English dictionary

  • 23prick — pricker, n. prickingly, adv. /prik/, n. 1. a puncture made by a needle, thorn, or the like. 2. a sharp point; prickle. 3. the act of pricking: the prick of a needle. 4. the state or sensation of being pricked. 5. a sharp pain caused by or as if… …

    Universalium

  • 24prick up one's ears — LISTEN CAREFULLY, pay attention, become attentive, begin to take notice, attend; informal be all ears; poetic/literary hark. → prick * * * phrasal : to begin to listen intently or with increased interest * * * prick up one s ears To begin to… …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 25prick — prick1 [ prık ] verb 1. ) transitive to make a very small hole in the surface of something with a sharp object: He pricked his finger and drew blood. Prick the sausages with a fork. 2. ) intransitive or transitive to cause or experience a guilty… …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • 26prick — [[t]prɪk[/t]] n. 1) pat a puncture made by a needle, thorn, or the like 2) the act of pricking: the prick of a needle[/ex] 3) pat the state or sensation of being pricked 4) cvb pat a sharp pain or feeling of discomfort caused by or as if by being …

    From formal English to slang

  • 27prick up — PHR V ERG If someone pricks up their ears or if their ears prick up, they listen eagerly when they suddenly hear an interesting sound or an important piece of information. [V P n (not pron)] She stopped talking to prick up her ears... [V P] Ears… …

    English dictionary

  • 28prick — v. & n. v. 1 tr. pierce slightly; make a small hole in. 2 tr. (foll. by off, out) mark (esp. a pattern) with small holes or dots. 3 tr. trouble mentally (my conscience is pricking me). 4 intr. feel a pricking sensation. 5 intr. (foll. by at, into …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 29prick up one's ears —    If you prick up your ears, you suddenly pay attention to what is being said.     The children pricked up their ears when they heard the word ice cream …

    English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • 30prick — verb 1》 press briefly or puncture with a sharp point.     ↘(prick something out) draw or decorate by making small holes in a surface. 2》 feel a sensation as though a sharp point were sticking into one.     ↘cause mental or emotional discomfort to …

    English new terms dictionary