Keep your ears open: the meaning of phraseology and origin

It's good or bad, but in our (and any) time you have to be careful. A person can be told differently in order to be always on the alert. There is such an expression - "keep your ears open". The meaning of phraseology, its origin, as well as examples (and not only), we will consider today.

Origin

There is no mystery here. Many phraseological units have arisen as a result of human observation of living nature. The expression under consideration is just such.

When the beast is concerned about something, something is disturbing or different suspicious sounds are heard, it turns its ears to the alleged source of noise and tries to catch what is there. The organs of hearing, previously unused, become "sharp", straining.

Accordingly, "keep your eyes open" (the meaning and origin of the phraseology are inextricably linked) - be attentive, careful. In other words, you should not relax.

Plaut and Russian phraseology

It is known for certain that the author of the famous aphorism "Man to man is a wolf" is the Roman comedian Plautus. To the general regret, mankind has changed little since ancient times, and the aphorism has already become a winged expression.

Someone will think that this is too long a call to the topic "keep your ears open: the meaning of phraseology," but it only seems. In fact, everything is connected: both Plautus, and our stable expression.

Thus, if people are still sufficiently selfish and insensitive to the needs of others, then it is not a sin to be on their guard with them.

Scouts are those who are always vigilant

When we need an example of those who always look in all eyes and listen in all ears, then immediately come to mind scouts, for example, famous for the Soviet cinema Stirlitz. That's who knows firsthand what it's like to keep an eye out (the meaning of phraseology was given a little earlier), because too much depends on scouts or double agents for sensitive senses to allow a blunder in this sense.

Children need to be taught to be cautious

Not only scouts need the ability to know people and understand who can be trusted, but who does not. Children will also thank you for it. All "recruits" of this world need, during adulthood, to remind people's wisdom, which is hidden in the expression under consideration. The child should know that the world is not a fairy tale. Of course, someone will say that children should believe in bright ideals, but the baby should not be put at risk. If he does not tell us that in reality there are not only good people but also bad people, eventually he can get into a not very pleasant company, and then parents will have to deal with the consequences of their too rosy upbringing.

But if the child knew that with some people it is better to keep one's ears open (the meaning of phraseology is explained in detail on examples close to everyone), then there would be no trouble.

Parenting is a complex process (although most people do not even think about it). It requires jewelry precision from parents, so as not to cause too much pain to the child. Absolutely without pain, unfortunately, we can not do without. To educate means to limit a person, to stop bad inclinations and to develop good sides of character. However, we digress from the topic "Keep your ears open: the meaning of expression," but there's nothing to worry about, because the reader already has all the necessary information.

Antonym

Surprisingly, the same habit of animals (to listen to noise) gave rise to two expressions that are charged in the opposite direction. On the one hand, when a person is on the alert - it's good, and when he, on the contrary, loses vigilance, people say: "Look at him, he hung his ears," and that's bad.

To give an example is very simple: new bosses come to work at work. And it says, in general, the right thing about the need to reduce the number of working hours, raise salaries and bonuses, it is necessary to reward those who work harder, and those who do not work - to fire. In other words, in theory everything is smooth.

After such a meeting, which happens in every organization, too trusting employees (fans to hang ears) said: "Well, now everything will change," and cautious muttered to himself: "It's too beautiful to say - there will be cuts." The second were right.

Everything is good in moderation

Naturally, if you take some phenomena of the world literally or too seriously, you can go wrong. For example, if you keep your ears open with everyone, you can end the days in a psychiatric hospital. True, if you believe all in a row and without any analysis, you can not live very long or live very badly. Unfortunately, in our country there are still full of people who do not just want to, but are eager to deceive someone. Scammers are a constant value of all time.

How to be, who to believe, and who does not? Man is given reason. He must develop and improve it. True, I must say that most people learn from mistakes and initially people who come to the world still believe in others, and then, having burned themselves, they doubt: are they all as good as it seems at first glance?

Turning to the language of phraseology, you can say this: an inexperienced person is inclined to hang ears. True, to the honor or dishonor of the world, he quickly disaccustoms to this bad habit and makes one keep his ears open.

Seneca said that only the mind should be developed to the person with all possible zeal, because only he distinguishes him from the animal. Also it is worth saying that, no matter how strong the body is, it is frail, and the acuteness of the mind can be preserved until old age. In addition, a developed mind will allow a person to understand people well and understand who should be trusted, and with whom to remain vigilant and cautious and not to trust him with all secrets.