- Where does ear to the ground come from?
- What does an ear to the ground mean?
- What is an example of keep ear to the ground?
Where does ear to the ground come from?
This expression originated in the late-1800s. The idiom stems from the literal practice of placing one's ear to the ground in order to hear far off hoof beats, footsteps, or other indicators of something or someone approaching. It is possible for vibrations to carry through the ground at great distances.
What does an ear to the ground mean?
ear to the ground (plural ears to the ground) (idiomatic) The practice or characteristic of carefully gathering information; a state or mindset of attentiveness. quotations ▼ (attributively, usually hyphenated) Pursuing the practice or having the characteristic of carefully gathering information; well-informed.
What is an example of keep ear to the ground?
To keep an ear to the ground means to listen or watch out for new information or trends. For example: David had his ear to the ground when it came to news about the latest and best technology to buy. If Susan had kept her ear to the ground, she wouldn't have missed the opportunity for a promotion.