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ear to the ground. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
ear to the ground, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
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English
Pronunciation
Noun
ear to the ground (plural ears to the ground)
- (idiomatic) The practice or characteristic of carefully gathering information; a state or mindset of attentiveness.
1903, Charles W. Chesnutt, “The Disfranchisement of the Negro”, in The Negro Problem:Congress never enacts a measure which is believed to oppose public opinion;—your Congressman keeps his ear to the ground.
1910, William MacLeod Raine, chapter 3, in A Texas Ranger:“There's no telling what a man might happen onto accidentally if he travels with his ear to the ground.”
1990, David Eddings, Sorceress of Darshiva, →ISBN, page 148:The tavern keeper's an old friend of mine—we was shipmates when we was younger—and he sort of keeps his ear to the ground for me.
- (attributively, usually hyphenated) Pursuing the practice or having the characteristic of carefully gathering information; well-informed.
1949 August 29, “Chile: Fast Work”, in Time:The ear-to-the-ground President knew that all the unrest could not be blamed on Communists.
Usage notes
- Often used in the expressions “to keep one's (or an) ear to the ground ” and “to put one's (or an) ear to the ground ”.
Translations
See also