perk (up) one's ears

idiom

informal, chiefly US, of an animal
: to lift the ears in a quick or alert way
The dog heard its name and perked (up) its ears.
often used figuratively of a person
I perked up my ears when I heard his name mentioned.

Dictionary Entries Near perk (up) one's ears

perk up

perk (up) one's ears

perky

Cite this Entry

“Perk (up) one's ears.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perk%20%28up%29%20one%27s%20ears. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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