A1 Idiom 中性

die Ohren spitzen

prick up one's ears

意思

To listen very carefully and attentively.

🌍

文化背景

Germany has a massive culture of audio plays for children and adults (like 'Die drei ???'). Narrators often use this phrase to signal a clue is coming. While the phrase is an idiom, it reflects the German value of 'Hinhören' (listening to/into) rather than just 'Zuhören' (listening). It implies a deeper level of focus. German uses many animal body parts to describe human behavior (e.g., 'Hasenfuß' for a coward). This shows a historical connection to rural and nature-based life.

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Use it for gossip

This is the perfect phrase to use when you're about to tell a friend something secret. It builds anticipation.

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Plural only

Always use 'Ohren' (plural). Using the singular 'Ohr' makes the idiom lose its meaning.

意思

To listen very carefully and attentively.

💡

Use it for gossip

This is the perfect phrase to use when you're about to tell a friend something secret. It builds anticipation.

⚠️

Plural only

Always use 'Ohren' (plural). Using the singular 'Ohr' makes the idiom lose its meaning.

🎯

Combine with 'mal'

Adding 'mal' (Spitz mal die Ohren!) makes the command sound more natural and slightly softer in German.

自我测试

Fill in the missing verb in the correct form.

Wenn Oma eine Geschichte erzählt, ______ die Kinder die Ohren.

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: spitzen

The subject is 'die Kinder' (plural), so the verb must be 'spitzen'.

Which sentence is correct?

How do you tell a friend to listen carefully?

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: Spitz die Ohren!

The idiom is plural 'Ohren' and the imperative for 'du' is 'Spitz'.

Match the situation to the phrase.

You are eavesdropping on a conversation in a cafe.

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: Ich spitze die Ohren.

Eavesdropping requires attentive listening, which is what the idiom means.

Complete the dialogue.

A: 'Hast du gehört, was der Lehrer gesagt hat?' B: 'Nein, ich habe nicht ______.'

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: die Ohren gespitzt

The sentence requires the Perfekt tense (haben + Partizip II).

Match the German idiom to its English equivalent.

die Ohren spitzen

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: to prick up one's ears

This is the most direct equivalent in English.

🎉 得分: /5

视觉学习工具

Animal vs. Human Ears

Animal
Physical movement spitzen
Human
Mental focus die Ohren spitzen

Contexts for Usage

🗣️

Social

  • Gossip
  • Secrets
  • Stories
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Public

  • Announcements
  • News
  • Lectures

练习题库

5 练习
Fill in the missing verb in the correct form. Fill Blank A1

Wenn Oma eine Geschichte erzählt, ______ die Kinder die Ohren.

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: spitzen

The subject is 'die Kinder' (plural), so the verb must be 'spitzen'.

Which sentence is correct? Choose A1

How do you tell a friend to listen carefully?

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: Spitz die Ohren!

The idiom is plural 'Ohren' and the imperative for 'du' is 'Spitz'.

Match the situation to the phrase. situation_matching A2

You are eavesdropping on a conversation in a cafe.

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: Ich spitze die Ohren.

Eavesdropping requires attentive listening, which is what the idiom means.

Complete the dialogue. dialogue_completion B1

A: 'Hast du gehört, was der Lehrer gesagt hat?' B: 'Nein, ich habe nicht ______.'

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: die Ohren gespitzt

The sentence requires the Perfekt tense (haben + Partizip II).

Match the German idiom to its English equivalent. Match A1

将左侧的每个项目与右侧的配对匹配:

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: to prick up one's ears

This is the most direct equivalent in English.

🎉 得分: /5

常见问题

7 个问题

It's a bit too casual for a formal email. Use 'Bitte beachten Sie...' or 'Ich möchte Ihre Aufmerksamkeit auf ... lenken' instead.

In German idioms, we usually use the definite article 'die'. 'Ich spitze die Ohren' is more idiomatic than 'meine Ohren'.

It can, but it doesn't have to. It just means listening very carefully. Context determines if it's eavesdropping or just being attentive.

Yes! It literally means to make your ears pointed, like a dog does when it hears something.

No, that sounds like a physical description of your ears. Use the verb phrase 'Ich habe die Ohren gespitzt'.

Not at all. It's still very common in everyday speech, especially in storytelling or casual conversation.

The opposite would be 'weghören' (to look/listen away) or 'auf Durchzug schalten'.

相关表达

🔗

ganz Ohr sein

similar

To be all ears.

🔗

jemandem ein Ohr abkauen

contrast

To talk someone's ear off.

🔄

die Löffel aufsperren

synonym

To open one's 'spoons' (ears) wide.

🔗

auf Durchzug schalten

contrast

To let something go in one ear and out the other.

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