ear to the ground
Monitoring the situation
To have an ear to the ground is to stay alert to trends, rumors, or developments before they become widely known.
The image is of listening for distant vibrations through the earth.
Keep your ear to the ground for any job openings.
Someone with an ear to the ground is well-informed about emerging situations.
Paying close notice
- listeningAttending to sound
- attunedAdjusted to perceive
- perceptiveQuick to understand
- observantNoticing things readily
receptive · sensitive · mindful · alert · heedful · watchful · conscious · cognizant
One with confidential access
- scoopFirst-reported story
- intelGathered espionage data
- briefedGiven essential information
- privyOutdoor toilet; informed
informed · updated · apprised · notified · knowledgeable · well-connected · sources · tipoff
Carefully attentive, observant
- waryGuardedly alert
- cautiousCareful to avoid risk
- guardedWary and restrained
- circumspectCarefully considering consequences
prudent · careful · prepared · ready · anticipation · scrutiny · surveillance · tracking
Speaks very quietly
- gossipInformal talk spreading rumors
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- murmursSpeaks in hushed tones
- rumblingsLow continuous sounds
talk · scuttlebutt · word · buzz · backchannel · undercurrent · speculation · innuendo
attentive
Paying close notice
- listeningAttending to sound
- attunedAdjusted to perceive
- perceptiveQuick to understand
observant · receptive · sensitive · mindful · alert · heedful · watchful · conscious · cognizant · discerning
insider
One with confidential access
privy · informed · updated · apprised · notified · knowledgeable · well-connected · sources · tipoff · grapevine
watchful
Carefully attentive, observant
circumspect · prudent · careful · prepared · ready · anticipation · scrutiny · surveillance · tracking · early-warning
whispers
Speaks very quietly
- gossipInformal talk spreading rumors
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- murmursSpeaks in hushed tones
rumblings · talk · scuttlebutt · word · buzz · backchannel · undercurrent · speculation · innuendo · leaks
- idiomstime flies, hit the sack, seize the day, ring a bell, break a leg
- earearlobe, eardrum, ear canal, inner ear, middle ear
ear to the groundout of touch
Lacking current awareness
oblivious · clueless · unaware · in the dark · head in the sand
eared, earring, ground, grounds, grounded, grounding, groundless, underground, groundwork