Term: Prick up your ears

prick up your ears (idiom): to suddenly start listening very carefully because you have heard something interesting, surprising, or important.

synonyms: listen intently, be all ears, pay close attention

pronunciation: /prɪk ʌp jɔːr ɪərz/ 

translation: saspicēt ausis 

example: The mention of a pay rise made everyone prick up their ears.

Origin and Imagery

The phrase comes from the behavior of animals (like dogs, horses, or rabbits).