Somebody’s ears are burning

phrase

Used to indicate that others have been talking about someone in their absence.

When John walked into the room, we stopped talking about his surprise party. Seeing our silence, he said, 'Why do I feel like my ears are burning?'

Idiomatic

phrase

When John walked into the room, we stopped talking about his surprise party. Seeing our silence, he said, 'Why do I feel like my ears are burning?'

Idiomatic

Definition 1 of 1

Pro Tip 1/3

The phrase is not literal; it means someone has been the topic of conversation, not that their ears are actually warm.

At the reunion, everyone was whispering, and I joked, 'My ears are burning; you all must be chatting about me!'

Pro Tip 2/3

This phrase is casual and typically used in informal situations or among friends.

During the coffee break, Sarah walked in and laughed, 'With all these giggles, my ears are burning!'

Pro Tip 3/3

It's a light-hearted way to acknowledge that a person suspects they've been talked about.

Seeing his coworkers quickly change the topic, Tom smirked and said, 'My ears are burning.'

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