Meaning
To be watchful, attentive, and ready for something to happen.
Cultural Background
In Iranian business culture, saying 'I am ear to the bell' is a way to show you are highly motivated and won't miss a deadline. The concept of 'waiting' (Entezar) is a massive theme in Persian poetry. While this specific idiom is more modern/colloquial, it shares the same emotional root as classical poems about waiting for a beloved. With the rise of food delivery apps like SnappFood, this phrase has seen a massive resurgence among young people waiting for their orders.
Use it for Emails
Even though 'zang' means bell, it's perfectly natural to use this for waiting for an email or a Slack message.
Don't over-conjugate
Keep 'Gush be zang' as one block. Only change the verb 'budan' at the end.
Meaning
To be watchful, attentive, and ready for something to happen.
Use it for Emails
Even though 'zang' means bell, it's perfectly natural to use this for waiting for an email or a Slack message.
Don't over-conjugate
Keep 'Gush be zang' as one block. Only change the verb 'budan' at the end.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'budan'.
سارا برای خبرهای جدید گوش به زنگ ______.
Sara is singular, so 'hast' (is) is the correct conjugation.
Which situation best fits the phrase 'گوش به زنگ بودن'?
Which one?
The idiom is about waiting for a signal or news.
Choose the best response.
علی: 'وقتی رسیدی به من خبر بده.' رضا: 'حتماً، ________.'
Ali is the one who will receive the news, so he should be the one 'gush be zang'. However, in this context, Ali tells Reza to inform him, so Reza tells Ali to 'be ready' for the news.
Which preposition is correct?
من گوش ___ زنگ هستم.
The fixed preposition for this idiom is 'be'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesسارا برای خبرهای جدید گوش به زنگ ______.
Sara is singular, so 'hast' (is) is the correct conjugation.
Which one?
The idiom is about waiting for a signal or news.
علی: 'وقتی رسیدی به من خبر بده.' رضا: 'حتماً، ________.'
Ali is the one who will receive the news, so he should be the one 'gush be zang'. However, in this context, Ali tells Reza to inform him, so Reza tells Ali to 'be ready' for the news.
من گوش ___ زنگ هستم.
The fixed preposition for this idiom is 'be'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
3 questionsYes, if you are expecting them to call you when they arrive at the door.
Not at all. It's a very polite way to show you are paying attention.
There isn't a direct idiom, but 'bi-khabar budan' (being without news) is often the result of not being 'gush be zang'.
Related Phrases
آمادهباش
synonymOn alert / Ready
چشم به راه بودن
similarTo be waiting (eyes on the road)
گوش خواباندن
specialized formTo eavesdrop / To wait for a chance
