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prick (sth) up
— phrasal verb with prick /prɪk/ verb [T]Definition
› When an animal pricks its ears up, or when its ears prick up, it puts its ears up straight because it is listening carefully to a small sound or one that is far away.Animal (non-human) behaviourRaising and loweringUsing the ears › If you prick up your ears, or if your ears prick up, you suddenly begin to listen very carefully because you have heard something interesting: I overheard them mentioning my name and pricked up my ears.Using the ears
(Definition of prick (sth) up from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
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SMART Thesaurus: Raising and lowering
Synonyms and related words:
- depress verb (REDUCE)
- dip verb (DROP)
- elevate verb
- elevated adjective
- erect verb (MAKE VERTICAL)
- go down (sth) phrasal verb (MOVE DOWN)
- hike sth up phrasal verb
- hoick verb
- hoist verb
- jack sth up phrasal verb (LIFT)
- lift noun (RAISE)
- lift verb (RAISE)
- lift verb (TAKE HOLD)
- pick sb/sth up phrasal verb (LIFT)
- prise verb
- prize verb (LIFT)
- pry verb (OPEN)
- put sth up phrasal verb (RAISE)
- ride up phrasal verb
- scoop sth/sb up phrasal verb
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