Idioms

ear to the ground

This page is about the idiom ear to the ground

INFORMAL

Meaning

If you have your ear to the ground, you know what's really going on in a situation.

For example

  • If we want to market to teenagers, we need someone with an ear to the ground who really knows what they want these days.

  • I've got this great stockbroker who's got his ear to the ground and always knows when to buy or sell stocks.

Origin: Possibly related to the fact that Native Americans put an ear to the ground and listen in order to find out if there are animals or other people moving in the distance.

Quick Quiz

We need someone who has an ear to the ground in Washington to report on

a. American weather

b. American history

c. American politics
a) American weather b) American history c) American politics

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Common English Idioms

Contributor: Matt Errey