# all eyes and ears

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/all-eyes-and-ears
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Very attentive.

## Examples

- I am all eyes and ears for your story.
- Tell me your secret because I am all eyes and ears right now.
- We are all eyes and ears for the latest news about the flight.
- The students were all eyes and ears as the teacher explained the final exam requirements.
- When the guide started describing the hidden path through the jungle, the hikers were all eyes and ears to ensure they stayed safe.
- The mechanics were all eyes and ears while the lead engineer demonstrated how to fix the broken engine parts correctly.
- The young chef was all eyes and ears while the master baker revealed the secret technique for making the perfect, light pastry dough.
- As the director began to outline the new strategy, the entire board sat forward, all eyes and ears for the impending changes.

## Origin

The expression entered English as a calque of the French *tout yeux, tout oreilles*. Its earliest appearances are restricted to translations of French literary works, where the phrasing was preserved during the transition between languages. The idiom mirrors the independent constructions of *all eyes* and *all ears* to denote a state of total observation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.