Phrase guide

bend someone's ear

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To bore; to talk too long, especially to one particular person.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Sorry to bend your ear with the whole story, but I think you ought to know.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To call someone's attention to an important matter.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • I managed to bend his ear about the current crisis. I hope he will act now.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To put a hand behind one's ear and cup it around so as to hear better.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: reflexive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: iemand de oren van het hoofd kletsen — talk too long
  • Finnish: pitkästyttää korvia — talk too long
  • French: rebattre les oreilles — talk too long
  • German: jemandem ein Ohr abkauen — talk too long
  • German: zutexten — talk too long
  • Polish: zanudzać — talk too long
  • Russian: все у́ши прожужжа́ть (vse úši prožužžátʹ) — talk too long