IdiomAnimals
French
FrenchFaire dresser l’oreille
Meaning: To catch someone's attention or spark their interest.
Literally: To make the ear stand up
Example: “Le mot « licenciement » a fait dresser l'oreille à tout le bureau.” — The word "layoffs" made the whole office prick up its ears.
English equivalent: To prick up one's ears
Equivalents in other languages
Polish: strzyc uszami Literally: To shear with one's ears
English: prick up one's ears
Origin: Horses, dogs and many other animals prick up their ears at a sound that might matter, turning them toward it. A remark or a rumor that makes people dresser l'oreille produces the same sudden alertness. The figure is shared across languages, as in English "prick up one's ears," and has no particular story behind it.
More French idioms
- Se payer la tête de quelqu'un To mock or ridicule someone.
- Avoir les sangs tournés To be profoundly shocked or horrified.
- Fourrer son nez dans les affaires de quelqu'un To meddle or pry indiscreetly into someone else's affairs.
- Griller les neurones To fry one's brain; to damage or wear out one's mental faculties.
- Prendre des gants To handle a delicate matter with great tact and care to avoid offending someone.
- Remettre en train To restart or reactivate something that has stopped or slowed down.
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