Wider ears and a shorter tongue.
Wider ears and a shorter tongue.
Meaning in plain English
Listen more and speak with greater restraint. Giving other people room to explain can improve your understanding before you decide what contribution is useful.
Example
A meeting chair lets a newcomer finish describing a problem and asks one clarifying question before offering a solution.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The enlarged ears and shortened tongue are an imagined adjustment to habits of attention. The proverb encourages a person who speaks quickly or at length to make more room for listening. A pause can reveal information, a different perspective or a misunderstanding that an immediate reply would miss. It is not a demand for everyone to remain quiet or for some people to dominate the conversation unchallenged. The useful balance depends on the setting. Listening carefully can lead to a more precise response, a necessary question or a clear disagreement rather than simply producing fewer words for their own sake.
When to use it
Use it when a habit of talking is preventing genuine attention to other people.
Keep in mind
Listening does not require silence in the face of harm or surrendering a fair opportunity to contribute.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 468 · Ears
Read the original context ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · historical anthology
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Public domain (United States)
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
Provenance and licences ↗