zijn oren spitsen

Dutch

Etymology

Compare German die Ohren spitzen, from which this expression is likely borrowed (as spitsen is itself borrowed from German spitzen).

Verb

zijn oren spitsen

  1. (intransitive, idiomatic) to prick up one's ears
    Zij spitste haar oren toen ze hoorde dat er chocola was. ― She pricked up her ears when she heard there was chocolate.

Usage notes

  • Occasionally also de oren spitsen, without the possessive pronoun.
  • The possessive pronoun varies by gender and number.

Conjugation

Conjugation of zijn oren spitsen: see spitsen.
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