(idiomatic) To be heard but not attended to, when a person fails to pay attention.

Alternative form of little pitchers have big ears

Small children often overhear more of what is said than adults realize or desire.

(idiomatic) To produce something refined, admirable, or valuable from something which is unrefined, unpleasant, or of little or no value.

(humorous) To be tone-deaf.

Third-person singular simple present indicative form of have one's ears pinned back

present participle of have one's ears pinned back

simple past tense and past participle of have one's ears pinned back

(idiomatic) To be strongly scolded, reprimanded or admonished. / (idiomatic, sports) To be soundly defeated.

(informal) Used to express the speaker's wish that a preceding statement by another speaker were to come true.