ear to the ground | Idiomator

Meaning: (idiomatic)Thepracticeorcharacteristicof carefully gathering information; a state ormindsetofattentiveness.1903,Charles W. Chesnutt, “The Disfranchisement of the Negro”, inThe Negro Problem:Congress never enacts a measure which is believed to oppose public opinion;—your Congressman keeps hisear to the ground.1910,William MacLeod Raine, chapter 3, inA Texas Ranger:“There's no telling what a man might happen onto accidentally if he travels with hisear to the ground.”1990,David Eddings,Sorceress of Darshiva‎[1],→ISBN, page148:The tavern keeper's an old friend of mine—we was shipmates when we was younger—and he sort of keeps hisear to the groundfor me.2001May 3, Elaine Shannon, Jessica Reaves, “Who'll Follow Freeh Into the FBI Corner Office?”, inTime:TIME Justice Department correspondent Elaine Shannon is keeping herear to the groundas candidates' names start to pop up.; (attributively,usually hyphenated)Pursuing the practice or having the characteristic of carefully gathering information;well-informed.1949August 29, “Chile: Fast Work”, inTime:Theear-to-the-groundPresident knew that all the unrest could not be blamed on Communists.

Examples:

EN: First, we must put our ear to the ground.
ES: Primero apoyamos la oreja contra el suelo.
EN: He always has his ear to the ground.
ES: Siempre tiene la oreja contra el suelo.
EN: Shall I put my ear to the ground?
ES: ¿Pongo la oreja en el suelo?
EN: I've had my ear to the ground like an Indian.
ES: He estado atento con mi cabeza contra el suelo, como un indio.
EN: You rather have your ear to the ground, Mr O'Toole.
ES: Se entera de todo, ¿verdad?
EN: You know, they used to say... an Indian could put his ear to the ground and hear the enemy... but Rock, he uses his nose.
ES: Solian decir... que un indio podía ponerse contra el piso y oír al enemigo... pero Rock usa su nariz.
EN: It has its finger on the pulse of the public and its ear to the ground.
ES: Tiene un oído muy sensible.
EN: Al, if you would've kept your ear to the ground, you'd realize that the real veto belongs to the purchasing public.
ES: Al... si escuchases con verdadera atención, comprenderías en seguida que el derecho al veto lo ejercita el comprador.
EN: Eyes open, ear to the ground.
ES: Abre bien los ojos, agudiza el oído.
EN: This morning ear to the ground, I learned from one of Harrison's servants that Kelly had been spending his days at the Comanche camp.
ES: Esta mañana, con el oído pegado al piso... me enteré por uno de los sirvientes de Harrison... que Kelly había estado pasando sus días en el campamento comanche.
EN: Gotta put an ear to the ground.
ES: Aunque hace frío.
EN: It's a good idea to keep your ear to the ground.
ES: Siempre es bueno enterarse de lo que dicen por allí.
EN: Put your ear to the ground, and see if you hear them.
ES: Ponga su oído al suelo, y escuche si se acercan.
EN: Go about your business. Keep your ear to the ground.
ES: Siga con lo suyo: mantenga la oreja pegada al suelo.
EN: I advise you consider your position carefully, perhaps adopting a more flexible posture, while keeping your ear to the ground, covering your retreat and watching your rear.
ES: Le aconsejo que reconsidere su posición, que adopte una postura más flexible, estando alerta, cubriendo la retirada y vigilando la retaguardia.

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