Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions

all ears

-to be eager to hear something, to be very attentive

My sister was all ears last night when I talked about starting a home business.

all eyes

- to be watching very closely, to be wide-eyed with surprise

My friend is all eyes when he goes to a basketball game.


While it would be easy to translate these the same way, I think there is a small distinction worth noting. The first shows eagerness while the other shows surprise. Therefore, it may be possible to show ATTENTION with facial grammar marking the difference.

However, I would probably save the ATTENTION sign, with eager body and face, perhaps even paired with the sign EAGER for "all ears." (both signs available at aslpro.com under these glosses.)

I would probably use an idiomatic version of SURPRISE/AMAZEMENT. I cannot currently find a free example on the web, let me know if you do. It is made with the mouth open - adding to the feeling of surprise, with both hands as fists at the eyes, then opening wide (I wiggle each finger as the open wide and close again).

If you really cannot imagine what I am describing, email me and I will do my best to get a vid up somewhere.

Signing off (I know, bad pun... sorry)
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