prick up

PRICK UP

(the ears) aures erigere (Cic.) or arrigere (Ter. Verg.). To prick up one’s ears when anybody is speaking aures erigere et aliquem dicentem attendere.

prick up: Phr.: to p. up the ears, aures arrigere (of attention), Ter. Andr. 5, 4, 30: Pl.: Virg.: also, erigere [mentes auresque], Cic. Sull. 11, 33. (The latter is a more dignified mode of speech.) Poet.: the up-p.'d ears of the Satyrs, aures Satyrorum acutae, Hor. Od. 2, 19, 4. See also TO AROUSE.