聞きき耳みみを立たてる

expression, ichidan verb

prick up one's ears; listen attentively

Describes the act of straining to hear something, often when trying to catch faint or distant sounds. The phrase literally means 'to stand up one's listening ears'.

• 隣となりの部屋へやの話はなしを聞きき耳みみを立たてて聞きいていた。

  I was listening attentively to the conversation in the next room.

• 彼かれはドアの外そとで聞きき耳みみを立たてた。

  He pricked up his ears outside the door.