ear to the ground

Definitions

1. 1

   The practice or characteristic of carefully gathering information

   The practice or characteristic of carefully gathering information; a state or mindset of attentiveness.

   • Congress never enacts a measure which is believed to oppose public opinion;—your Congressman keeps his ear to the ground.
   • “There's no telling what a man might happen onto accidentally if he travels with his ear to the ground.”
   • The tavern keeper's an old friend of mine—we was shipmates when we was younger—and he sort of keeps his ear to the ground for me.
2. 2

   Pursuing the practice or having the characteristic of carefully gathering information

   Pursuing the practice or having the characteristic of carefully gathering information; well-informed.

   • The ear-to-the-ground President knew that all the unrest could not be blamed on Communists.

The neighborhood

• neighborkeep a weather eye open