熱心に聞く
解説 Definition
be all ears は、相手の話を聞きたいと強く思い、熱心に聞く準備ができている状態を表す慣用句です。
Be all ears means to be very ready and eager to listen carefully. It is used when someone wants to hear what another person is going to say. The expression is informal and often shows strong interest.
使い方 Usage
- I'm all ears. は「ぜひ聞かせて」というくだけた表現。相談、提案、話の続きを促す場面で使います。 I'm all ears is an informal way to invite someone to speak, offer a suggestion, or continue a story.
- 主語や時制に合わせて be を変えます。she is all ears、she was all ears のように使えます。 Change be to match the subject and tense, as in she is all ears or she was all ears.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
all「全部」と ears「耳」から、「体じゅうが耳になった」と想像しましょう。相手の話に関心を集中させるイメージです。
Imagine your whole body turning into ears. This picture represents focusing your interest on what another person has to say.
例文
Tell me about your trip—I'm all ears!
旅行のことを聞かせて。ぜひ聞きたい！
If you have any suggestions for improvement, I'm all ears.
改善の提案があれば、ぜひ聞かせてください。
be all ears の類義語・関連語
対義語
be all ears の語源・成り立ち Etymology
earは古英語ēareにさかのぼる語で、hearも同じ印欧語根を持ちます。体じゅうが耳になったように聞くという誇張表現で、all+earsの単純な形だからこそ「全注意を聴覚へ向ける」感覚が直感的に伝わります。
Ear comes from Old English eare, and it is related to hear through an old Indo-European root about hearing. The phrase be all ears is a simple exaggeration, as if a person's whole body had become ears. That image gave it the sense of giving complete attention to listening.
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