be all ears
Fully focused listening
To be all ears is to be eagerly attentive, ready and waiting to hear what someone has to say: Tell me what happened—I'm all ears.
The phrase suggests concentrated listening, as if the whole body has become an organ of hearing.
- interestedEager to know more
- attentivePaying close notice
- receptiveOpen to input
- engagedPledged to marry
- tuned inAttentive and aware
alert · listen up · concentrated · open-minded · wide open · pay heed · eager · approachable · fascinated · focused · hang on every word · on the edge of my seat · empathetic · curious · intrigued · perked · perceptive · responsive
be all earstune out
Deliberately stop attending
zone out · space out · daydream · ignore · not listening
be all earsturn a deaf ear
Intentionally refuse to listen
close one's ears · couldn't care less · brush off · block out · stonewall
be all earsbe bored
Experience mental tedium
couldn't care less · shrug off · dismiss · brush off · not give a damn
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