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 personI perked up my ears when I heard his name mentioned.
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 31 Oct. 2025.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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